Caleb Holt delivered a standout performance in his homecoming, leading No. 12 Arizona to an 80-69 victory over Auburn at Neville Arena.
The Alabama native, who grew up in Huntsville, recorded season-highs of 24 points, nine rebounds, and five steals, as “Holt did not disappoint in his homecoming” according to ClutchPoints.
The Wildcats secured their third straight win after an initial loss to UCLA, with JJ Mandaquit, Motiejus Krivas, and Ivan Kharchenkov contributing during the final minutes, “stymying Auburn’s late rally” per reports from Yahoo Sports.
Following the game, the 18-year-old freshman expressed his excitement regarding the win in his home state, noting that the outcome “means everything” as stated in a postgame interview on SportsCenter.
Holt emphasized the support he received from his teammates throughout the high-stakes matchup, telling reporters, “I got all these guys behind me. They knew I was coming to my home state, and they had my back.”
The guard, who is currently averaging 17.2 points and 7.2 rebounds, explained his defensive strategy by comparing his playstyle to a free safety in football.
He noted that he attempts to read the floor by anticipating offensive moves, adding, “I watch a lot of guys in the NBA on the defensive side so I can try to translate that onto the court.”
Arizona now prepares for an upcoming challenge against Connecticut this Wednesday.
The victory marked the first SEC road win for the program since 2016, a milestone highlighted by the outlets during their coverage of the event.
Holt concluded his remarks by stating that he remains focused on playing freely without placing excessive pressure on his performance.