Arizona did not dominate in rebounding as it usually does, Jaden Bradley struggled most of the game while playing in foul trouble and Brayden Burries had difficulty scoring, but none of that could stop the Wildcats from beating TCU 86-73 in Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday to remain unbeaten.
The top-ranked Wildcats (16-0, 3-0) used its resourcefulness — namely reserve guard Anthony Dell’Orso — to turn away the upset-minded Horned Frogs (11-5, 1-2).
Arizona is five wins shy of the program-record start of 21-0 in 2013-14.
A Dell’Orso 3-pointer and long-range jumper were part of a 7-0 run by Arizona that put the Wildcats ahead 72-58 with 4:33 left.
Before Dell’Orso’s clutch shots from the perimeter, TCU cut its deficit to seven points after trailing by as many as 21 points in the first half.
Bradley overcame foul trouble, playing through four fouls in the second half, and scored all 17 of his points in the second half.
Bradley had 10 points in the last 4:17 of the game to secure the double-digit lead.
With each point, it seemed as if the vociferous Arizona fans in attendance chanted, “U of A!” louder.
The Horned Frogs were coming off a 104-100 overtime loss at Kansas earlier in the week after they blew a late 15-point lead.
Koa Peat led the Wildcats against Kansas State with 20 points and seven rebounds.
Bradley and Dell’Orso each had 17 points.
The Wildcats shot 50.7% from the field, producing 21 assists on their 34 made field goals.
Arizona was second in the nation with a plus-15 rebounding margin a game entering Saturday. It outrebounded TCU 38-32 and outscored the Horned Frogs 42-32 in the paint.
Tobe Awaka finished with nine points and seven rebounds after experiencing pain in his left leg in the first half.
Arizona will next host Arizona State on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. The Sun Devils snapped a four-game losing streak with an 87-84 victory over visiting Kansas State on Saturday.
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