The day finally arrived for the Arizona Wildcats and Akron Zips to face one another in their first round of the NCAA Tournament. With Arizona entering as the 4th seed in their region and Akron as the 13th, the Wildcats were here to take care of their business and advance while the Zips were seeking the upset. However, with a dominant performance from Arizona, they were able to push past Akron with ease, winning in a 93-65 victory. The Wildcats had full control of the game from the opening tip, and have sent the Zips home after a one-sided win.
Arizona’s overall size, athleticism, and efficiency on all levels proved too much for Akron as they struggled all game to keep pace with the Wildcats. Arizona controlled the boards, tempo, and had their offensive firepower on full display. With this win, they advance to the Round of 32, where they will either face the winner of Oregon or Liberty this Sunday.
Arizona Wildcats’s Early Surge Sets the Tone
The Wildcats wasted no time establishing their presence, jumping out to a quick 9-0 lead in the first two minutes. Jaden Bradley, Trey Townsend, and Caleb Love each knocked down a three-pointer, forcing Akron head coach John Groce to call an early timeout. Arizona’s defensive pressure and size in the paint immediately became a challenge for the Zips.
The Akron Zips finally found some offensive rhythm behind guard Tavari Johnson, who scored the team’s first six points with a pair of layups and a floater. However, Arizona continued to dictate the pace, using its superior rebounding to create second-chance opportunities. By the 10-minute mark, Arizona led 17-13, controlling the glass 14-8 and limiting Akron’s perimeter looks.
As the first half progressed, the Wildcats extended their lead by attacking the basket and forcing Akron into tough shots. A putback dunk by Carter Bryant and a floater from Love pushed Arizona’s advantage to 33-22 with under four minutes remaining. Despite a late floater from Johnson at the buzzer, Arizona took a 41-31 lead into halftime, having dominated the rebounding battle 30-13.
Wildcats Continue to Pull Away
Arizona opened the second half much like the first, using a quick burst to stretch its lead. Townsend, who had 14 points and six rebounds at halftime, threw down a fast-break dunk that extended Arizona’s lead to 47-33. Moments later, a media timeout saw Akron trailing 54-37, their largest deficit of the game to that point.
The Akron Zips attempted to rally behind Shammah Scott, who had six points early in the second half. However, Arizona’s relentless rebounding and paint dominance prevented any real comeback threat. By the 12-minute mark, the Wildcats had already thrown down eight dunks, with Henri Veesaar and Bryant finishing highlight-worthy slams.
Akron’s hopes of making the game competitive faded quickly as the Arizona Wildcats extended its lead to 75-53 with just over seven minutes remaining. The Zips, who averaged nearly 30 three-point attempts per game during the season, struggled to find clean looks, shooting just 3-of-10 from beyond the arc. The Wildcats’ defensive length and athleticism made any Akron comeback nearly impossible.
Arizona Finishes in Dominant Fashion
The Arizona Wildcats continued to impose their will as the game entered its final stretch. With just under three minutes remaining, the Wildcats held their largest lead of the game at 88-57. Their rebounding advantage had grown to an astounding 52-20, and they outscored Akron 46-20 in the paint.
Guards Nate Johnson and Tavari Johnson were Akron’s bright spots, each finishing with 13 points. However, their efforts were not enough to overcome Arizona. The Wildcats finished the game with four players in double figures, with Bradley leading the way with his 19 points, then Townsend right behind him with 16 points, and strong bench contributions from Bryant Veesaar as well.
When the final buzzer finally went off, it was clear that Arizona was the far superior team, both on paper and on the court. The Wildcats led the way in nearly every statistical category in this game while also eliminating Akron’s attempts at playing their game. This performance from the Akron Zips would also go down as their second-lowest scoring output of the season.
Final Thoughts
For Arizona, this victory was a statement win. They understood the moment, and what was at stake and came in this game and handled their business. Taking full control of this game in every way possible, they were able to secure a lopsided win.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Akron’s season has come to a disappointing end as their hunt for their program’s first NCAA Tournament victory fell short. The Zips were simply unable to match Arizona in any part of the game, and it left them being outmatched from start to finish. Now, the Arizona Wildcats look ahead to the next round and prepare for their next challenge. As for the Zips, they reflect on a commendable season that ultimately came to an end to a superior opponent.
