UPDATE: The Arizona Wildcats have surged to a commanding 47-32 halftime lead against the Norfolk State Spartans on Saturday at McKale Center. Center Motiejus Krivas played a pivotal role, scoring 16 points and grabbing seven rebounds in the first half, shaking off an early slump for the Wildcats.
Krivas, who made 6 of 10 free throws, also attempted his first college 3-pointer but missed. His performance helped secure the Wildcats’ lead after a shaky start, where they missed five of their first six shots, allowing Norfolk State to take an 8-7 lead at the first media timeout.
The Wildcats, ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25, faced early struggles as the Spartans took the lead six times in the first half. However, Arizona regained its footing, launching a decisive 16-4 run to pull ahead. They briefly tied the game at 24 with 7:54 remaining when Jaden Bradley converted a layup.
Norfolk State responded, briefly taking a 26-25 lead before Arizona took control. The Wildcats shot an impressive 53.6% from the field but struggled beyond the arc, missing all five 3-point attempts.
Adding to the tension, the Wildcats lost wing Ivan Kharchenkov to an apparent left ankle injury late in the first half. He was helped off the court by athletic trainer Justin Kokoskie with just over five minutes left and did not return to the bench for the remainder of the half.
As the second half approaches, all eyes will be on how Arizona maintains its momentum and whether Kharchenkov can return to the game. Fans are eager to see if the Wildcats can extend their unbeaten streak of 5-0 and solidify their top ranking.
For updates, follow sports reporter Bruce Pascoe at [email protected] and on X (Twitter) at @brucepascoe for real-time coverage.
