TUCSON, Ariz. — No. 2 Arizona overwhelmed Auburn from start to finish Saturday night, cruising to a 97-68 win behind a dominant offensive performance and a balanced effort across its starting lineup. 

Arizona (8-0) shot a blistering 61% from the field and outscored Auburn 60-24 in the paint, using its size, pace, and unselfish play to remain unbeaten. The Wildcats took control late in the first half with a 15-0 run and never allowed the Tigers (7-3) to creep back within striking distance.

Freshman forward Koa Peat powered Arizona with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting, flashing his versatility with strong drives, mid-range touch, and active work on the glass. Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries added 16 points apiece, both repeatedly slicing through the Auburn defense in transition.

Arizona's interior presence set the tone early. Motiejus Krivas finished with eight points and nine rebounds, helping the Wildcats build a 44-32 halftime lead that ballooned to more than 30 in the second half. The Wildcats also dominated the assist battle 23-7, with Ivan Kharchenkov posting a game-high eight assists to go with 12 points.

Auburn struggled to keep pace despite a 30-point explosion from freshman guard Tahaad Pettiford, who knocked down five 3-pointers and was one of the Tigers' few consistent scoring options. Auburn shot just 33% from the field and committed 15 turnovers, repeatedly feeding Arizona's transition attack.

The Wildcats' depth again proved decisive, with the bench contributing 27 points and providing steady defense during the team's second-half surge. Arizona outscored Auburn 53-36 after the break and led by as many as 31 in front of a sold-out McKale Center crowd of 14,688.

Arizona returns to action next week against No. 12 Alabama in Birmingham on Saturday, December 13th at 7:30 pm MST. This game will be aired live on ESPN. 

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