TUCSON, Ariz. — Senior point guard Jaden Bradley scored a game-high 23 points and Arizona used a balanced attack and stifling defense to pull away from Saint Mary’s for an 81-68 exhibition victory Saturday afternoon at McKale Center.
Bradley, a junior guard, scored 15 of his points in the second half and finished 7-of-11 from the field and a perfect 2-of-2 from beyond the arc. He added four assists and a steal, helping the Wildcats lead from start to finish. Arizona led for over 38 minutes and held Saint Mary’s scoreless for the first two minutes of the game, setting the tone early.
Motiejus Krivas anchored the paint with a double-double, grabbing 17 rebounds to go with 11 points and two blocks in his first game action since Dec. 7, 2024 due to injury.
Arizona shot an efficient 53.3% from the field, while holding Saint Mary’s to just 39.3% shooting. The Wildcats also capitalized on turnovers, converting 12 Gaels miscues into 20 points, compared to just 10 points off seven Arizona turnovers for Saint Mary’s.
Anthony Dell’Orso added 13 points and four steals, while freshman Brayden Burries chipped in 10 points and seven rebounds. Koa Peat, another standout freshman, contributed 10 points and two blocks, including a key bucket late in the second half to extend the Arizona lead.
Arizona’s defense was particularly effective in the first half, limiting Saint Mary’s to 33.3% shooting and just one made three-pointer. The Wildcats used an 11-0 run midway through the first half to open up a double-digit lead, eventually taking a 37-30 advantage into the locker room.
Saint Mary’s was led by Joshua Dent, who scored 14 points, and Paulius Murauskas, who added 12. Tony Duckett provided a spark off the bench with 12 points, including a 7-of-8 effort from the free throw line.
The Gaels made a push in the second half, cutting the deficit to three with under six minutes to play, but Arizona responded with a 9-0 run capped by a Bradley fast-break layup and free throw to seal the win.
Arizona’s bench contributed 14 points, and the team’s depth was on display as 13 players saw action. The Wildcats also tallied 13 assists and eight steals.
The Wildcats will take on Embry-Riddle on Monday, Oct. 27 at 7:00 p.m. MST in McKale Center. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and tickets are still available by visiting ArizonaWildcats.com/MBK.
