The first win of the Tommy Lloyd era came just over five years ago, a lopsided victory over NAU. The same opponent was on the losing end of another milestone for Lloyd.
Arizona cruised to a 90-59 win over NAU on Tuesday night in ALKEME Arena at McKale Center, giving Lloyd his 150th career victory. The winningest coach in Division I history through five seasons, Lloyd needed 187 games to reach 150 wins.
His mentor, Gonzaga coach Mark Few, accomplished the same feat in 186 games.
Ivan Kharchenkov had
another all-around stellar performance, going for 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, while Caleb Holt had 17, Motiejus Krivas 16 and Derek Dixon 12. Holt added five rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block while JJ Mandaquit hit three 3-pointers and chipped in seven assists.
Arizona (2-1) shot 61.7 percent overall, 8 of 25 from 3 and assisted on 26 of 37 baskets while collecting 11 steals. NAU (0-3) shot 41.2 percent and turned it over 15 times, leading to 21 points for the Wildcats
Arizona did not allow its first offensive rebound until the 5:41 mark of the 1st half, a deadball rebound, and the Lumberjacks didn’t get to the foul line until the opening minute of the 2nd half. The Wildcats also blanked NAU 28-0 in fast break points.
The UA led 46-22 at halftime behind 65.4 percent shooting. Early in the 2nd half a pair of highlight reel transition plays by the Wildcats forced NAU to call timeout, including one that saw Bryce James block a dunk attempt that led to a runout for Kharchenkov, and after the break James hit a 3 for a 55-29 lead.
Right after that there was a son of an NBA player scoring on the son of another NBA player, with NAU’s Max Majerle converting a 3-point play after James was whistled on the jumper. That triggered an 11-2 run for the Lumberjacks to get within 57-40 with 14:58 to go.
This game had everything, including self-deprecating humor from referee Greg Nixon. After Lloyd called timeout with 14:32 left to challenge an out of bounds called, the play was reversed with Nixon declaring into the courtside mic “one of the worst out of bounds called made is being reversed.”
Former Wildcat Dylan Anderson scored the game’s first points but Arizona followed with 11 of the next 13 and had a double-digit lead less than seven minutes in. Three different Wildcats hit a 3-pointer in the first nine minutes, with Dixon and Mandaquit hitting their second on consecutive possessions to put the UA up 35-17 with 6:06 left in the 1st half.
Arizona hits the road for its next game Friday at Auburn. The Tigers (2-0) have blowout home wins over SE Louisiana and Appalachian State.
