Photos: University of Arizona scrape by UCF Knights 88-80, Big 12 basketball
The Wildcats had to scrap to the end to drop UCF 88-80 in their first Big 12 appearance in McKale Center, January 11, 2025, Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona forward Tobe Awaka (30) tomahawks a dunk on UCF center Moustapha Thiam (52) during a Wildcat run in the first half of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., January 11 2025.
The Arizona bench goes a little crazy after forward Tobe Awaka (30) hammered home a dunk in the first half against UCF, Tucson, Ariz., Jan. 11 2025.
UCF forward Benny Williams (5) flies in to snatch an offensive rebound over Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) in the second half of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., January 11 2025.
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) drives to the bucket against UCF guard Dallan Coleman (6) in the second half of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., Jan. 11 2025.
Arizona forward Henri Veesaar (13) manages to get the slam through UCF guard Keyshawn Hall (4), center, and guard Mikey Williams (1) in the second half of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., January 11 2025.
Arizona forward Henri Veesaar (13) tries to get to the ball through the arms of UCF forward Benny Williams (5) in the second half of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., January 11 2025.
Arizona forward Tobe Awaka (30) draws the foul from UCF center Moustapha Thiam (52) on his shot in the second half of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., January 11 2025.
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) gets pinned in the corner by UCF guard Mikey Williams (1) in the second half of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., January 11 2025.
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) gets to the basket past UCF guard Keyshawn Hall (4) in the second half of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., January 11 2025.
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) manages to snare a loose ball under UCF guard Jordan Ivy-Curry (0) in the second half of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., January 11 2025.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd pleads his case to one of the game officials in the second half against UCF, Tucson, Ariz., January 11 2025.
Arizona forward Henri Veesaar (13) pulls down the rebound in a crowd against UCF in their Big 12 game in Tucson on Jan. 11, 2025.
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) comes in from behind to swat a way a shot from UCF guard Keyshawn Hall (4) in their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., January 11 2025.
Arizona forward Henri Veesaar (13) throws down a bucket in the second half against UCF in their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., January 11 2025.
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) goes to the basket against UCF center Moustapha Thiam (52) in their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., January 11 2025.
UCF guard Mikey Williams (1) scrapes the ball out of the hands of Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) on his shot attempt in their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., January 11 2025.
Arizona forward Trey Townsend (4) gets fouled trying to get between UCF guard Keyshawn Hall (4), left, and guard Jordan Ivy-Curry (0) in the second half of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., January 11 2025.
An Arizona cheerleader works on the floor as the Wildcats are introduced with pyro for their game against UCF, Tucson, Ariz., January 11 2025.
Arizona forward Carter Bryant fights his way into the lane through UCF guard Keyshawn Hall in the first half of their Big 12 game on Jan. 11, 2025, in Tucson.
Arizona forward Trey Townsend (4) protects his offensive rebound from UCF forward Benny Williams (5) in the first half of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., January 11 2025.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd makes his case after the Wildcats didn’t get a call in the first half against UCF in their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., Jan. 11 2025.
Arizona guard Caleb Love (1) comes up just short of getting his hands on an alley-oop pass against UCF in the first half of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., Jan. 11 2025.
TOP: Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) drives to the bucket against UCF guard Dallan Coleman (6) in the second half of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., Jan. 11 2025. LEFT: Arizona guard Anthony Dell’Orso (3) runs into UCF guard Darius Johnson (3) defending his shot from the key in the second half of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., Jan. 11 2025.
Arizona forward Trey Townsend (4) and forward Tobe Awaka (30) throw up a roadblock on UCF guard Darius Johnson (3) in the first half of their Big 12 game Jan. 11, 2025, at McKale Center.
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0), left, and UCF guard Jordan Ivy-Curry (0) wrestle for control of loose ball in the first half of their Big 12 game, Tucson, Ariz., January 11 2025.
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) throws down a dunk on a Wildcat break in the first half against UCF Big 12 action, Tucson, Ariz., January 11 2025.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
The Arizona Wildcats have kicked away several big leads already this season, and Tommy Lloyd was in no mood to see it happen again Saturday.