Maui Fastbreak: UC Falls to Arizona 101-93 In High-Scoring Showdown

The Bearcats now face Ohio State on Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET.

© Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

CINCINNATI — UC fought to the finish in the Maui Invitational quarterfinals, but fell short against No. 14 Arizona 101-93. 

The Wildcats controlled the track meet for all 40 minutes, but the Bearcats managed to cover the 9.5-point spread thanks to career-highs in points from Landers Nolley (33 points) and Viktor Lakhin (19 points, career-high 10 shots).

"I really do think we're going to be a good team," UC head coach Wes Miller said after the game. "We're still trying to figure each other out and figure out the right combinations and the right play calling and trying to figure out who we are defensively. But I thought there were some really good moments against a team that's already a REALLY good team. They're coming off a Sweet 16, have a lot of guys back. They're playing really, really good basketball."

The Rundown: Arizona (No. 1 scoring average in the country) owns the best offense in the nation, and it showed in the second half. UC held them to their lowest-scoring half of the season, but bruising forwards Azuolas Tubelis (30 points) and Omari Ballo (21 points) were too much of a mismatch for UC to slow down.

The Wildcats shot a ridiculous 62% from the field and 53% from deep to make UC's offensive explosion moot. Cincinnati's 93 points were its most in a loss since the quadruple-overtime classic against UConn in the 2016 AAC Tournament. Nearly a week after scoring 11 points in a half, UC won the second half 63-61 and still needed a 10-0 run in the final minutes to cover.

It was that kind of shooting night for both teams, and Arizona had a much better start to make all the difference (UC 1H: 31% FG, 27% 3FG, 67% FT).

UC has a chance to win their final two games if Nolley stays hot, and they won't have to deal with any massive size depth like Zona brought to the table.

Notable Nuggets: Nolley's career-high in points included a red-hot night from outside in a nice return to mean for the forward (23.5% from deep heading into Maui). He went 9-of-14 from downtown to cash the most single-game UC triple since Deonta Vaughn against Coastal Carolina in 2007.

UC continues to struggle with a big complement for Lakhin, who had a much-needed career night.

Kalu Ezikpe (zero points, one rebound) posted his fifth straight game with six points or less, and third outing with zero points. While, Ody Oguama (zero points, two rebounds, four fouls) had a goose egg as well. 

The Wildcats swallowed UC's undersized big men.

Cincinnati posted a 17-for-34 night from outside, its most three-pointers since November 2006 against Wofford. The explosion tied for the third-highest mark in school history.

Up Next: UC faces Ohio State at 5 p.m. ET after the Buckeyes fell to No. 17 88-77 in the game before UC's. Top-50 2022 recruit Brice Sensabaugh (team-high 17 points, 5.5 rebounds) has taken the reigns as the Buckeye's offensive engine.

Slowing him down along with one of UC's 2022 transfer targets Sean McNeil (10.8 points, 41.2% from deep) will be crucial if Cincinnati wants to break two losing streaks. 

They have lost four in a row to Ohio State, and another L would mark the second three-game losing streak in as many seasons under Miller.

Cincinnati Press Conference Day 1 https://t.co/bADURZ8OEV

— Maui Invitational (@MauiInv) November 22, 2022

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