Arizona guard Pelle Larsson scored 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds as the Wildcats erased an early 12-point deficit to defeat Oregon State 78-65 at McKale Center on Saturday night, keeping their Pac-12 title hopes alive.
The victory improved Arizona to 20-8 overall and 11-6 in conference play, moving them into sole possession of second place in the Pac-12 standings. The Wildcats now trail league-leading Washington State by just one game with three regular season contests remaining.
Larsson Leads Second-Half Surge
After trailing 35-23 midway through the first half, Arizona outscored the Beavers 55-30 over the final 25 minutes behind Larsson’s efficient shooting performance. The senior guard went 9-of-15 from the field and knocked down four three-pointers to pace the comeback.
“Pelle just took over when we needed him most,” Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd said after the game. “His leadership and shot-making ability in crucial moments is why he’s been such an important piece for us all season.”
Forward Azuolas Tubelis added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Wildcats, while point guard Kerr Kriisa contributed 12 points and six assists. Arizona shot 52.3 percent from the field in the second half after managing just 38.5 percent in the opening 20 minutes.
Beavers Struggle Down the Stretch
Oregon State, which entered the game at 14-14 overall and 6-11 in Pac-12 play, couldn’t maintain their early momentum despite a strong performance from guard Jordan Pope. The junior scored 19 points on 7-of-12 shooting but received little help from his supporting cast.
The Beavers managed just 30 points in the second half and turned the ball over 16 times for the game. Arizona’s full-court pressure in the final 15 minutes forced several crucial turnovers that led to easy transition baskets.
“We played well enough to win for about 25 minutes,” Oregon State coach Wayne Tinkle said. “But against a team like Arizona, you have to execute for 40 minutes. Our turnovers and poor shot selection down the stretch cost us.”
McKale Center Atmosphere Provides Boost
The announced crowd of 14,644 at McKale Center provided the energy boost Arizona needed during their second-half rally. The Wildcats went on a decisive 18-4 run over a seven-minute stretch in the second half, with the crowd noise reaching deafening levels during multiple Oregon State possessions.
Arizona’s bench outscored Oregon State’s reserves 22-8, with sophomore forward Filip Borovicanin contributing eight points in 14 minutes of action. The Wildcats also dominated the glass, outrebounding the Beavers 38-28.
Pac-12 Tournament Implications
The victory puts Arizona in strong position heading into the final week of regular season play. The Wildcats host Stanford on Tuesday before traveling to face UCLA and USC to close out the conference schedule.
With Washington State stumbling recently, Arizona controls its own destiny for the Pac-12 regular season championship. The Wildcats have won four of their last five games and appear to be peaking at the right time ahead of March Madness.
Larsson, who transferred from Utah State prior to this season, has emerged as Arizona’s most reliable scorer in conference play. The Stockholm native is averaging 17.2 points per game in Pac-12 contests and shooting 41.2 percent from three-point range.
Arizona returns to action Tuesday when they host Stanford at 9 p.m. PT in what could be their final home game of the regular season.
