TUCSON, Ariz. — No. 13 Arizona flexed its depth and dominance in the paint to cruise past Utah Tech, 93–67, on Friday night at McKale Center, improving to 2–0 on the season.  

Freshman forward Koa Peat led the Wildcats with 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting, pairing his efficiency with three rebounds and three assists. Fellow freshman Brayden Burries also poured in 18 points, connecting on three shots from beyond the arc and coming away with four steals, while Anthony Dell'Orso matched their total with 18 points of his own off the bench in addition to four assists. 

Arizona controlled the game from start to finish, shooting 57% from the field and outscoring Utah Tech 58–24 in the paint. The Wildcats' frontcourt overwhelmed the Trailblazers, highlighted by Tobe Awaka's double-double of 12 points and a career-high 18 rebounds in just 19 minutes of action. Arizona's defense forced 14 turnovers and turned them into 26 fast-break points, keeping Utah Tech on its heels throughout the night.

Awaka is just the seventh Division I player since 1996-97 to record 18 or more rebounds while playing 20 minutes or less, and the first to do so since Ernest Udeh Jr. did it for TCU against Texas A&M Commerce on Jan. 1, 2024.

Despite some early back-and-forth action with Utah Tech briefly leading 9–5 midway through the first half, Arizona then took command with a 10–0 run and never looked back. The Wildcats led 44–37 at halftime before pulling away with a 60% shooting second half to seal the win.

For Utah Tech, Ethan Potter led the way with 15 points and six rebounds, while Tanner Davis added 11. The Trailblazers shot just 38% from the field and 27% from deep, struggling to match Arizona's tempo and interior presence.

Arizona's balanced attack featured 10 players scoring, and the Wildcats' reserves contributed 41 points, showing the team's depth early in the season. 

The Wildcats next take the court on Tuesday, November 11th, hosting Northern Arizona inside the McKale Center.