Caleb Love, Motiejus Krivas score 20 points each as Arizona blows out Belmont 100-68

The leading scorer at North Carolina a year ago, and an NCAA Tournament hero a year before that, Caleb Love hasn't quite been that sort of guy over Arizona’s first three games this season.

Motiejus Krivas, meanwhile, was a soft-spoken 7-foot freshman from Lithuania, quietly learning his way behind Oumar Ballo in the post.

Those two personas changed quickly Friday, when both players scored 20 points to lead third-ranked Arizona (4-0) to a 100-68 win over Belmont (2-2) at McKale Center.

Love poured in 15 points over the first nine minutes of the game, then added back-to-back highlight-reel assists in the second half, while Krivas exploited Belmont’s smaller lineup with a variety of hook shots and other post moves.

The only thing that might have been tough for Love was deciding what was the most fun: Was it the way he charged inside in the first half, the fact that he made 3 of 5 3-pointers – or the eye-opening way he and Keshad Johnson paired up in the second half?

That’s a toughie.

“Um, it’s fun playing basketball,” Love said. “It’s what I love to do, what we all love to doing. You gotta have fun with it. So when I can make those type of plays and show off my teammates and get them highlights as well, I'm all for it.”

After Love led Arizona to a 56-35 halftime lead, he made a notable shift to playmaker midway through the second half, when Arizona led Belmont mostly by 30 or more points. Love first stole the ball from Keishawn Davidson and then dished a behind-the-back pass to Johnson, who dunked with 9:28 left to give UA an 87-52 lead.

Love then dished an alley-oop pass to Johnson on UA’s next possession, and Johnson dunked it in for an 89-52 UA lead.

“Anytime I'm on a fast break, I know he's running with me,” Love said. “We’ve got a great connection on and off the floor. Great relationship.

“You know, his name is Showtime for a reason.”

Krivas put on his own show inside, playing a bigger role in part because, according to UA coach Tommy Lloyd, Ballo was banged up. In just 18 minutes off the bench, Krivas collected 20 points on 8-for-10 shooting, nine rebounds and 4-for-4 free throw shooting.

Balllo “got off to a little slower start and Mo came in there and played really well,” Lloyd said. “It’s just his fourth Division I game so he's getting a little more experience and as you guys can see, he's a talented player.

“I feel really comfortable with him on the court and I'm glad to see our guys continue to get confidence in him in game moments, and for him to get confidence. I think he's gonna be a great player. What he did today once he got going really didn’t surprise me.”

While Love and Krivas became the first Arizona players to hit the 20-point mark this season, the typically balanced Wildcats still had three other players in double figure scoring: Kylan Boswell (14), Ballo (12) and Johnson (11).

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The difference between Arizona’s two leading scorers Friday was that, while Love clearly thrived in the fast-paced game that Belmont played into, Krivas is used to a different sort of pace back in Lithuania.

“I would say the pace of the game (is an adjustment), just swiping on the ball,” Krivas said. “Everyone tries to steal it.”

Despite having two turnovers in just 12 minutes at Duke a week earlier, and three in 22 minutes against Southern on Monday, Krivas had only one on Friday. He kept the ball in solid position, mostly above the Bruins’ heads before it went into basket, over and over.

After the game Krivas also dished an assist Ballo’s way for helping him make such a quick adjustment. Among other things, Krivas said, Ballo has encouraged him to stay physical in the post and not react to shot fakes.

“He’s a really good player and he gives me lessons every practice,” Krivas said. “He tries to help me. It’s really good that I have somebody like him by my side.”

In the first half, Love’s offense powered Arizona early before the Wildcats went on an 18-0 run to blow the game open in the middle of the first half, while Krivas dominated over the smaller Bisons on a variety of moves inside.

Belmont kept up with Arizona early thanks to its 3-point shooting, hitting its first four attempts beyond the arc and, tying the game at 14 when Brigham Rogers made a 3 that resulted from Cade Tyson’s steal of Boswell's inbounds pass.

After Pelle Larsson turned the ball over on Arizona’s next possession, Belmont had a chance to go ahead when Boswell sent Belmont's Malik Dia to the line with a foul. But Dia missed both ensuing free throws and UA kept the Bruins scoreless for nearly seven minutes while going on their 18-0 run from there.

Arizona led 32-14 at the end of the run, which Dia finally broke with a layup with 8:57 remaining.

Lloyd said because Belmont had not shot well – the Bruins were collectively just 29.9% from 3 over their first three games – the Wildcats opted to tweak their defense accordingly, leaving open some 3s. While that looked like a rough strategy early, Arizona was still shutting down the paint, so it ultimately paid off.

Belmont wound up making just 11 of 34 shots from two-point range, a dreary 32.4% mark.

“I thought sometimes the only shots they were getting were some of those 3s,” Lloyd said. “Sometimes hen the only shots you're getting are those 3s, you make a few of them and it feels good. They made a few to start the game.

"Then they missed a few and I think we went on the 18-0 run. That’s just kind of how the game breaks sometimes.”

Photos: No. 3 Arizona Wildcats blowout Belmont Bruins in Tucson 100-68