Freshman guard Caleb Holt delivered a standout performance to guide No. 12 Arizona to an 80-69 road victory against Auburn on Friday night.
Holt recorded 24 points and nine rebounds to help the Wildcats improve their season record to 3-1, according to Yahoo Sports.
The game featured a significant momentum shift after halftime when the Tigers erased a 14-point deficit.
Auburn briefly took a 58-57 lead midway through the second half, as noted in the Associated Press basketball coverage.
Arizona responded with a decisive 13-6 scoring spurt that effectively sealed the outcome for the visitors.
Ivan Kharchenkov contributed 19 points and eight rebounds to the winning effort.
Motiejus Krivas also played a key role for the Wildcats, finishing the contest with 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Derek Dixon added 11 points to round out the double-digit scoring for Arizona.
For the Tigers, who fell to a 2-1 record, Thomas Dowd led the offensive charge with 15 points.
The matchup highlighted the competitive nature of early-season play, as the Wildcats maintained composure despite the hostile environment and the home team’s rally.
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The Wildcats successfully navigated the pressure to secure their third win of the young season.
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Arizona now looks to build on this performance as conference play approaches later this year.
Auburn will look to recover from the loss as they continue their non-conference schedule.
The game marks a significant early victory for the Wildcats on the road.