Tubelis remains perfect against ASU
TEMPE — Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis kept his perfect record against Arizona State intact, when the fifth-ranked Wildcats held off the Sun Devils 69-60 at Desert Financial Arena.
Tubelis concluded Saturday with 21 points on 7-for-14 shooting from the field and collected nine rebounds. After starting 1-for-5 from the field, Tubelis shot 67% to lead Arizona in scoring. Tubelis has led the Wildcats in scoring in eight games this season.
Tubelis’ 21 points from Arizona’s win over its rival was the most he’s scored against the Sun Devils. Tubelis is 5-0 all-time against ASU.
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3), left, and forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) gesture to the Sun Devil crowd after the visiting Wildcats took down Arizona State 69-60 at Desert Financial Arena.
The junior power forward from Lithuania is averaging 14 points on 52% shooting and nine rebounds against ASU over his three-year career at the UA.
“He’s a great player,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said of Tubelis.
Arizona dons blue retro unis
For the first time since Arizona’s loss to UCLA on Jan. 20, 2007, the Wildcats wore the navy blue uniforms that were a signature look for the program during the Lute Olson era.
Arizona center Oumar Ballo, right, finishes off an alley-oop dunk against Arizona State in the second half of their Pac-12 game at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe on Dec. 31, 2022.
The last time Arizona wore those navy blue uniforms, Ivan Radenovic led the Wildcats with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Marcus Williams had 11 points and 11 rebounds in a 73-69 loss to the Bruins.
Crash backs up I-10 West
Arizona fans — or college football fans traveling for the Fiesta Bowl — likely had to take a detour driving up from Tucson on Saturday, after westbound Interstate 10 was closed at milepost 205 near Sunland Gin Road in Eloy. I-10 was closed for four hours, then reopened shortly after 11 a.m.
Faces in the crowd
Former Arizona forward Mo Tangara, the only other Malian player in Wildcats history besides current UA center Oumar Ballo, sat behind Arizona’s bench on Saturday. Al Terry, the father of ex-Wildcat and Chicago Bulls rookie Dalen Terry, also sat behind Arizona’s bench.
Sitting across from ASU’s bench was Arizona governor Doug Ducey. Newly-elected governor Katie Hobbs attended the UA’s “Arizona Assist” NIL event in Phoenix on Thursday.
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) finishes off an alley-oop dunk over Arizona State forward Warren Washington (22) in the second half of their Pac 12 game at Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Ariz., December 31, 2022.
Numbers game
9: UA freshman forward Henri Veesaar swatted two shots on Saturday, giving him nine blocks this season.
1: ASU finished with one player in double-figure scoring. Frankie Collins finished with 12 points, six assists and five rebounds. Saturday also marked Arizona’s first true road win of the season; ASU lost its first home game of the season.
13: ASU missed 13 consecutive 3-point attempts before Alonzo Gaffney made one with 4:04 left to play in the first half. The Sun Devils shot 2-for-16 from beyond the arc in the first half — and 3-for-27 for the game.
10-13: Arizona shot 10 for 13 from the free-throw line in the second half against the Sun Devils. ASU’s student section is known for its “Curtain of Distraction,” a tradition that started in the latter years of the Herb Sendek era. Among the costumes used by the students: a house cat, a black morph suit with red yarn, an inflatable ostrich with a blue mask from the movie Avatar, Cookie Monster and a New Year’s baby. The Wildcats shot 24 for 28 (86%) from the free-throw line. It’s the third time Arizona has shot better than 80% this season; the Wildcats shot 89% from 3 against Tennessee, and set a program record with 22 of 22 free-throws made against Utah Tech.
6: Oumar Ballo finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds, marking his sixth double-double of the season.
35-4: Arizona finished 2022 with a 35-4 record going back to last season. The Wildcats’ only losses in the calendar year? Utah, Houston, Colorado and UCLA. The Wildcats have also beaten eight ranked opponents in that span.
Photos: No. 5 Arizona beats rival Arizona State in Tempe
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) tries to keep the ball in bounds in front of Arizona State guard Devan Cambridge (35) in the first half of their Pac 12 game at Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Ariz., December 31, 2022.
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3), left, and forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) gesture to the Sun Devil crowd after the visiting Wildcats took down Arizona State 69-60 at Desert Financial Arena.
Arizona forward Henri Veesaar (13) rejects a shot from Arizona State guard Austin Nunez (2) in the first half of their Pac 12 game at Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Ariz., December 31, 2022.
Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) draws a blocking foul from Arizona State forward Duke Brennan (24) on his drive in the first half of their Pac 12 game at Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Ariz., December 31, 2022.
Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa (25) owns up to his foul in the second half against Arizona State Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Ariz., December 31, 2022.
Arizona guard Courtney Ramey (0) draws contact trying to drive the lane against Arizona State in the second half of their Pac 12 game at Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Ariz., December 31, 2022.
Arizona guard Cedric Henderson Jr. (45) gets fouled from behind by Arizona State guard Frankie Collins (10) while trying to shoot over forward Duke Brennan (24) in the second half of their Pac 12 game at Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Ariz., December 31, 2022.
Arizona State guard Austin Nunez (2) can't believe the call went against his team in the second half against Arizona in their Pac 12 game at Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Ariz., December 31, 2022.
Arizona center Oumar Ballo, right, finishes off an alley-oop dunk against Arizona State in the second half of their Pac-12 game at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe on Dec. 31, 2022.
Arizona guard Cedric Henderson Jr. (45) stops a fast break shot from Arizona State guard Luther Muhammad (1) in the second half of their Pac 12 game at Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Ariz., December 31, 2022.
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) finishes off an alley-oop dunk over Arizona State forward Warren Washington (22) in the second half of their Pac 12 game at Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Ariz., December 31, 2022.
Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley reacts after the Sun Devils threw away a chance on a fast break in the second half against Arizona in their Pac-12 game at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe on Dec. 31, 2022.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd and associate head coach Jack Murphy plot a plan to slow down Arizona State in the second half of their Pac-12 game at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe on Dec. 31, 2022.
Arizona guard Courtney Ramey’s wrap-around pass to center Oumar Ballo goes off the foot of Arizona State forward Warren Washington during the second half of Saturday’s game in McKale Center.
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson, right, jostles the ball out of the grip of Arizona State guard Desmond Cambridge Jr. in the second half of their Pac-12 game at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe on Dec. 31, 2022.
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3), left, and center Oumar Ballo (11) end up chasing the same rebound in the second half against Arizona State at Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Ariz., December 31, 2022.
Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa chats with a game official while the Wildcats take a free throw against Arizona State in the second half Saturday.
Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis, left, gets tangled up with Arizona State guard Desmond Cambridge Jr. trying to control an inlet pass in the first half of their Pac-12 game at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe on Dec. 31, 2022.
Arizona guard Cedric Henderson Jr. (45) attempts a shot in traffic, including Arizona State guard DJ Horne (0) in the first half of their Pac 12 game at Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Ariz., December 31, 2022.
Arizona State forward Alonzo Gaffney (32) gets a big piece of Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) trying to block his shot in the first half of their Pac 12 game at Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Ariz., December 31, 2022.
Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley reacts after one of his Sun Devils was called for defensive foul in the first half against Arizona in their Pac 12 game at Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Ariz., December 31, 2022.
Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa (25) strips Arizona State guard DJ Horne (0) early in the first half of their Pac 12 game at Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Ariz., December 31, 2022.
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) juggles a basketball off his head, a'la soccer, as the Wildcats warm up to go against Arizona State at Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Ariz., December 31, 2022.
Arizona State forward Alonzo Gaffney (32), left, and Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) chase after a loose ball in the first half of their Pac 12 game at Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Ariz., December 31, 2022.
Arizona guard Courtney Ramey (0) and Arizona State forward Jamiya Neal (5) bounce off one another in the Sun Devil key in the first half of their Pac 12 game at Desert Financial Arena, Tempe, Ariz., December 31, 2022.
