Tommy Lloyd has said Jaden Bradley doesn’t need accolades, that being left off preseason watch lists for the Bob Cousy and Wooden Awards isn’t a bother. He’ll just let his play speak for itself.
And the unfortunate victims of that unspoken disappointment continue to be ranked opponents.
Bradley had 21 points, including a layup with 16.3 seconds left to help ice a 71-67 win at No. 3 UConn on Wednesday night. That basket was part of a 7-0 run to put No. 4 Arizona ahead for good after it squandered a 13-point lead.
It was the third win over a ranked opponent already the UA, the second over a Top 3 team after opening the season by beating No. 3 Florida. The Wildcats (5-0) are just the third team in Associated Press poll history to beat multiple Top 3 teams in the first five games of a season, first since Kansas in 1989.
Bradley, who had 27 against Florida and 15 in Friday’s win over No. 15 UCLA, with 13 coming in the final five minutes, was 6 of 13 from the field and made 8 of 9 free throws. Koa Peat had 16 points and 12 rebounds for his first career double-double, Motiejus Krivas went for nine points and a career-high 14 rebounds and Tobe Awaka made four free throws in the final 6.7 seconds to secure the victory.
UConn (4-1) had a 36-game home win streak against nonconference opponents snapped as its stars struggled. Senior Alex Karaban, a member of back-to-back national championship teams in 2023 and 2024, had eight points while fellow Wooden Award preseason watch list member Solo Ball scored 14 on 5-of-14 shooting including 1 of 8 from 3.
The Huskies were 8 of 25 from 3 and 9 of 18 from the line while getting dominated by Arizona on the boards. With forward Tarris Reed out because of an ankle injury they were beaten 43-23 with the UA snagging 13 offensive rebounds that led to 16 points.
The UA held a 35-33 lead at halftime thanks to a 25-13 edge on the boards. The Wildcats held UConn scoreless for almost the first three minutes of the second half while scoring routinely on the other end, making eight of their first 12 shots.
Arizona extended the lead to 53-40 with 13:34 but then went almost four minutes without scoring. That allowed the Huskies to go on a 7-0 run and more than half the deficit.
UConn got within 56-52 before Bradley hit a jumper, then Arizona had multiple chances to extend the lead after winning a replay challenge and drawing Silas Demary Jr.‘s fourth foul but couldn’t score. A 3 byKaraban cut it to 58-57 and then 7-foot-1 freshman Eric Reibe drained a 3 to tie it with 3:56 to go.
The Huskies took their first lead since 22-21 on a layup by Jaylin Stewart with 3:02 remaining, capping a 22-7 run to go up 62-60.
UConn led 64-62 with 2:16 left before Arizona took over. Peat made 1 of two free throws, then Krivas had the go-ahead basket on a putback with 1:10 left. A Huskies turnover was followed by Bradley scoring inside at the end of the shot clock.
Awaka’s four free throws included a pair with 0.8 seconds to go after Demary hit a 3 to cut it to 69-67.
Arizona had its best start to a game this season, leading 4-0 and building a 6-point advantage with 13:33 left in the first half. But seven straight points fromBall put the Huskies in front, starting a trend where neither team led by more than four points the rest of the half
The only thing that seemed to go wrong for the Wildcats in the first half was the play of Brayden Burries, who drew two fouls in the first 2:42 and turned it over twice while going scoreless in six minutes of action.
There were five tied and eight lead changes in the first half though the UA only trailed for 65 seconds.
Arizona is off until Monday when it hosts Denver, the start of a 3-game homestand that culminates with No. 22 Auburn visiting McKale Center on Dec. 6.
