Ivan Kharchenkov absolutely tore it up for No. 12 Arizona on Tuesday night, dropping 20 points as the Wildcats completely rolled over Northern Arizona 90-59. This wasn’t just a win, it was a statement. Arizona shot a ridiculous 62% from the floor, overpowering the Lumberjacks with a massive 52-20 advantage in the paint. Talk about a dominant performance!
Total Control From The Jump
The Wildcats (2-1) used their size to just smash Northern Arizona (0-3), hitting the gas early and never letting up. They built a monster 24-point lead by halftime, 46-22, and then just kept piling it on with an 18-3 run in the second half. This team isn’t just winning, they’re blowing opponents out, securing their second straight blowout win after that tough season-opening loss to No. 9 UCLA. What a way to bounce back! They were passing the rock like crazy, racking up 26 assists on 37 field goals. That’s team basketball right there.
Individual Brilliance And Relentless Pressure
Kharchenkov wasn’t just scoring, he was everywhere, adding seven rebounds and seven assists to his 20 points. Caleb Holt dropped 17 points, and Moteijus Krivas added 16 points and seven rebounds, showing just how deep this Arizona squad is. Even with forward RJ Godfrey out for his third straight game awaiting eligibility news, the Wildcats didn’t miss a beat. They just worked the ball around for wide-open looks as the Lumberjacks tried to collapse on Krivas inside. Arizona hit 17 of 26 shots from the floor in the first half, including 5 for 12 from deep, and owned the paint 20-8 in that opening frame. NAU was pretty cold from 3, hitting only 4 of 16, and they went completely scoreless for the final 3:21 of the first half. Arizona didn’t let up in the second either, hitting five of their first eight shots to widen the lead even further. And yeah, Bryce James, LeBron’s son, even got in on the action, firing up the crowd with a monster blocked shot on Lucas Toukam’s dunk attempt before draining a 3-pointer that pushed the Wildcats up 55-29.
Northern Arizona has a tough road ahead, heading to No. 24 Kentucky on Friday. But for Arizona, it’s all about keeping this momentum rolling as they visit Auburn on Friday. If they keep playing with this kind of offensive firepower and paint dominance, watch out, college basketball, because the Wildcats are here to make some serious noise.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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