Arizona Tops Cincinnati 77-51, Stays 19-0

The top-ranked Arizona Wildcats reasserted their dominance with a decisive 77-51 victory over the Cincinnati Bearcats on Wednesday night at McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona. Playing as the unanimous No. 1 team for the first time this season, Arizona improved to 19-0 overall and 6-0 in the Big 12 Conference, pulling away in the second half after a competitive opening period.

The game tipped off at 7 p.m. Mountain Time before a home crowd, with Arizona favored by 13.5 points according to betting lines. The Wildcats, who entered undefeated following an 84-77 road win over UCF last Saturday, relied on their size and athleticism to overcome early defensive lapses. Cincinnati, riding momentum from a 79-70 upset of then-No. 2 Iowa State, fell to 10-9 overall and 3-3 in conference play, marking their first visit to Tucson against Arizona, where the Wildcats now hold a 5-0 all-time edge.

The first half remained tight, with Arizona shooting just 36.7 percent from the field while building a slim six-point lead at halftime, 33-27. The Wildcats jumped out to a 15-6 advantage early, fueled by freshman Ivan Kharchenkov's four points and a hook shot from Motiejus Krivas. Cincinnati responded...