For the previous seven matchups, Oregon was Arizona's kryptonite.ย
The third-ranked Wildcats outlasted the Ducks 84-81 Saturday night at McKale Center and moved to 24-2 on the season.ย
Arizona shot 53% from the field and 48% from 3-point range en route to the win and were led by guard Bennedict Mathurin, who finished the night with 24 points, seven rebounds and five assists.ย
With second-ranked Auburn falling to Florida on Saturday, Arizona will most likely move up one spot in the Associated Press Top 25 poll alongside the top-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs, the team Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd assisted under Mark Few for 22 years.ย
After the UA-Oregon game, Lloyd discussed the benefits of the win over Oregon and what it means to be alongside Gonzaga heading into the final stretch of the regular season; here's what he said:ย
Embracing close, hard-fought battles
โWhen you end up in them, you welcome it.โ โ Tommy Lloyd on Arizona finally getting into a nail-biter pic.twitter.com/AD4HiAnZ5A
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) February 20, 2022
Message to the Wildcats after beating Oregon
Tommy Lloyd on his message to Arizona after the win over Oregon: pic.twitter.com/IXKG5zwRHy
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) February 20, 2022
Perks of nail-biters
Tommy Lloyd on the benefits of Arizona playing in close games: โLive bullets are a great teaching tool.โ pic.twitter.com/pDGoYoJwmv
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) February 20, 2022
Giving Kerr Kriisa the green light
โโIf you got a 28-footer, let โer rip.โโ โ Tommy Lloyd on his message to Kerr Kriisa, who made a clutch 3-pointer late in Arizonaโs 84-81 win over Oregon pic.twitter.com/KH1UYKiP2L
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) February 20, 2022
Ducks' best shot
Tommy Lloyd expected Oregonโs best game plan especially after the Ducksโ loss to ASU. pic.twitter.com/wwucFS9092
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) February 20, 2022
Overcoming Oregon's tough defense
Tommy Lloyd on Oregonโs โhandsyโ defense against Arizona, which forced 9 steals: pic.twitter.com/KHmXGMeqBm
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) February 20, 2022
Sticking to the script
โI was proud of guys for hanging in there and finding a way to win a close game. We havenโt had a lot of those.โ โ Tommy Lloyd after No. 3 Arizonaโs 84-81 win over Oregon pic.twitter.com/4T9BS2fi7d
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) February 20, 2022
Side-by-side with the former team
Gonzaga and Arizona will be the top-two teams in the AP poll on Monday. What does that mean for Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd, who spent the previous 22 years with the Zags? โWeird. Cool. Awesome. โฆ Theyโre family and I think theyโre happy for us.โ pic.twitter.com/aGGz9aPNlg
— Justin Spears (@JustinESports) February 20, 2022