Sophomore KJ Lewis emerged off the bench with a standout performance, scoring a career-best 21 points to propel visiting Arizona to a commanding 75-56 victory over No. 21 West Virginia on Tuesday night in Morgantown, West Virginia. Jaden Bradley showcased his skills with 15 points and five assists, while Anthony Dell’Orso contributed 10 points for Arizona (9-5, 3-0 Big 12), extending their winning streak to five games and avenging a defeat to West Virginia six weeks earlier in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament.
Arizona seized an early lead and maintained control throughout the game, halting West Virginia’s seven-game winning streak. The Mountaineers (11-3, 2-1) had just entered Monday’s AP Top 25 poll for the first time since December 2022. Employing ball screens to unleash their offensive prowess, Arizona consistently generated high-quality shot opportunities. The Wildcats shot an impressive 50.8 percent from the field and converted 35 percent of their attempts from beyond the arc (7 of 20).
Not only did Arizona dominate the paint with a 36-22 points advantage, but they also outrebounded West Virginia 40-31. Javon Small, the leading scorer in the Big 12, mustered 17 points, six rebounds, and five assists for the Mountaineers, who struggled with their shooting, making only 36.2 percent of their field goals and 27.6 percent from three-point range (8 of 29).
Despite a spirited resurgence from West Virginia early in the second half, slicing a 15-point deficit to 48-43, Arizona weathered the storm and surged ahead decisively. KJ Lewis spearheaded a critical 11-0 run, contributing seven points to extend the Wildcats’ lead to 64-47 midway through the second half. From that point onwards, West Virginia failed to narrow the margin to less than 12 points, as Arizona maintained control.
Lewis, who began the season as a starter but was later relegated to a bench role, showcased his scoring prowess by converting 9 of 12 field goal attempts, surpassing his previous career high of 18 points. Arizona found themselves trailing by three points early on before Trey Townsend, Jaden Bradley, and Anthony Dell’Orso each drained a crucial three-pointer to propel the Wildcats to an 11-8 advantage.
In the latter stages of the first half, Arizona capitalized on a stretch of seven consecutive misses by West Virginia, embarking on an 8-0 run. Caleb Love netted the final four points of this surge, establishing a 35-22 lead for Arizona with 2:30 remaining until halftime. A buzzer-beating jumper by Lewis further extended the Wildcats’ lead to 39-28 heading into the break.
The victory marked Arizona’s impressive fifth consecutive win, underscoring their resilience and offensive prowess. West
