TUCSON, Ariz. — No. 2 Arizona stayed unbeaten with a 103–73 win over Denver on Monday night inside McKale Center, using stifling defense and a wave of balanced scoring to pull away early and control the game throughout.
Arizona's defensive pressure set the tone immediately. The Wildcats swarmed passing lanes, forced rushed entry passes, and turned live-ball turnovers into instant offense. By the midway point of the first half, Arizona had built a comfortable cushion powered almost entirely by stops and transition attacks.
Freshman guard Brayden Burries continued his surge with 20 points and 7 rebounds, knocking down timely threes and helping fuel Arizona's perimeter defense. Fellow freshman Ivan Kharchenkov matched him with 20 points on 9-of-12 shooting, adding 5 rebounds and a career-high 3 steals. Kharchenkov's ability to turn defensive pressure into downhill attacks repeatedly broke Denver's rhythm and helped Arizona take a 56–28 lead into halftime.
Inside, Tobe Awaka delivered one of the most dominant rebounding performances of his Arizona career. He finished with 12 points and 15 boards, including 7 on the offensive end, anchoring a defensive effort that held Denver to one shot on most possessions. Awaka's presence inside paved the way for Arizona to control the paint by a 50–22 margin.
Freshman forward Koa Peat added 12 points while providing steady rim protection and physical post defense. Off the bench, Dwayne Aristode sparked Arizona with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting, hitting four threes and injecting pace each time he entered. In total, six Wildcats reached double figures as Arizona shot 56.9% from the field and 42.9% from deep.
Arizona's defense never loosened, forcing 19 turnovers and repeatedly pushing the pace after stops. The Wildcats' length, activity, and communication through ball screens shaped one of their strongest defensive halves of the season and allowed the offense to flow freely.
Arizona improves to 6–0 and continues Wildcat Classic play on Saturday, hosting Norfolk State at McKale Center with tipoff slated for 2:00 p.m. MST on ESPN+.
