The Arizona Wildcats, currently ranked No. 1 in the country and one of only three teams still undefeated, have faced a series of tough challenges in their last three games. Their most recent matchup against the UCF Knights highlighted the increasing difficulty of the season for the Wildcats, as they narrowly escaped with an 84-77 victory.

This win marked the third time this season that Arizona has managed to secure a close victory, following a streak of ten consecutive wins by at least 19 points. The game against UCF was a stark contrast to their earlier performances, showcasing the growing competitiveness of their schedule.

Koa Peat, who had previously recorded his fourth double-double of the season and first 20-and-10 game with Arizona, found himself in foul trouble early in the game. He played only four minutes in the first half and did not score a single point. Meanwhile, senior guard Jaden Bradley continued to demonstrate his elite skills, scoring 21 points in the second half to finish with a total of 23 points, along with four rebounds, three assists, and a steal.

Brayden Burries, a freshman, was the second-highest scorer for Arizona, contributing 18 points. Motiejus Krivas added another double-double to his season, finishing with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Despite being closely matched by UCF in rebounds (37-36), Arizona outscored the Knights 36-28 near the rim.

While Arizona committed fewer turnovers than UCF, the Knights were more effective in converting those opportunities into points, scoring 16 compared to Arizona’s 10. Additionally, UCF attempted 15 more shots than Arizona but made one fewer basket.

First Half

The first half was a tightly contested battle between Arizona and UCF. Both teams were tied at 9 points each six minutes into the game. However, Arizona gradually pulled ahead, taking a 20-11 lead midway through the half.

Ivan Kharchenkov’s assist to Tobe Awaka for a powerful dunk sparked a scoring run for the Wildcats. With nine minutes remaining in the first half, Arizona extended its lead to 26-11, with Krivas leading the way with 11 points.

After a brief lull, UCF made a strong comeback, cutting Arizona’s lead to 29-20 with six minutes left before the media timeout. Arizona managed to maintain a 35-31 lead until Kharchenkov’s layup pushed them back to a six-point advantage with three minutes remaining in the half.

UCF, led by Themus Fulks’ 15 points, brought the score to within two points thanks to a jumper. However, Awaka responded with a layup, including a free throw, to extend Arizona’s lead to four points, making it 40-35. Fulks then hit a crucial three-pointer to bring UCF within two points again, making the score 40-38. Arizona entered halftime with a 41-38 lead, fueled by Krivas’ 15 points and Burries’ 11.

Second Half

In the second half, Peat returned to the starting lineup after being held scoreless in the first half due to foul trouble. Arizona quickly built a 47-40 lead at the start of the second half, with Bradley scoring a key transition layup.

Despite Arizona’s early advantage, UCF refused to back down, cutting the lead to 49-45 with 15 minutes remaining. The Wildcats struggled to contain Fulks, who drew a foul and converted a layup to narrow the gap to 51-49 with 13 minutes left.

Arizona then went on a 6-0 run, pushing their lead to 57-59 with 11 minutes remaining. Bradley scored the final four points of the run, while Dwayne Aristode and Bradley extended the lead to 10-0, making it 61-49. UCF finally stopped the bleeding with a three-pointer from Jamichael Stillwell, bringing the score to 61-52 with nine minutes left.

Bradley’s jumper increased Arizona’s lead to 65-52 with seven minutes remaining, marking the last eight points of a 12-point scoring run by the Wildcats. Stillwell’s two three-pointers helped UCF cut the deficit to 69-61 with five minutes left. At that point, UCF was 7-for-21 from beyond the arc, while Arizona was 2-for-12.

Arizona maintained an eight-point lead until Burries hit a deep shot to make it 74-63 with just under four minutes left. The Wildcats held a 79-73 lead with 38 seconds remaining, and Bradley sealed the victory by making five of six free throws, securing an 84-77 win and preserving their undefeated season.

The Wildcats will return to action on Wednesday, January 21, at 7 p.m., when they face the Cincinnati Bearcats at McKale Center.