The Arizona Wildcats didn't make it look easy against the Duquesne Dukes on Wednesday night, but the basketball team coached by Sean Miller was able to pull out the victory in the end. The Wildcats allowed the Dukes with 49-48 with less than seven minutes left in the game, but Jordin Mayes was able to help his Wildcats close out the 67-59 victory.
Arizona Vs. Duquesne: No. 16 Wildcats Sloppy In Second Win
The Arizona Wildcats didn’t make it look easy as they turned the ball over 21 times, but the Sean Miller’s squad was able to avoid an upset on Thursday night at the hands of the Duquesne Dukes.
The Wildcats turned the ball over 20 times compared to just nine from Duquesne, but Mayes was able to get hot in the second half as he hit 4-of-7 from beyond the arc and lead Arizona with 19 points -- 14 of which came in the second half. The only other Wildcat to score in double-digits was forward Jesse Perry as he tallied a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
In an interesting turn of events, as SB Nation’s Mike Rutherford noted in his column Thursday morning, Mayes wasn’t even supposed to be in the starting lineup.
Arizona freshman guard Josiah Turner was removed from the starting lineup on Wednesday night because he missed the team's shootaround earlier in the day. The move may have cost Turner his spot for good (or at least the time being) as sophomore Jordin Mayes took his place and promptly led the Wildcats in scoring with 19. Turner failed to register a point in 17 minutes of action.
Duquesne had a great opportunity at an upset, but the team made just four of its 25 three-pointers and was out-rebounded 39-27 on the glass. The Dukes were led by Eric Evans and Sean Johnson with 13 points apiece while T.J. McConnell filled the box score by scoring nine points and adding six rebounds, four assists and three steals in 37 minutes.
The Wildcats are ranked 16th in the country, but the team has not looked great this season. They opened their season with an exhibition loss to Seattle-Pacific, eked out a second exhibition win over Humboldt State and then looked better -- but still not worthy of their ranking -- in a victory over the Valparaiso on Monday.
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