Arizona drops 84-75 to UCLA in Las Vegas exhibition

Ivan Kharchenkov scored 38 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the University of Arizona men's basketball team on Monday night, but the Wildcats lost their season opener to UCLA 84-75 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The contest marked the first game of the Hall of Fame Series. Arizona trailed badly in the first half before mounting a late surge that fell short. The loss exposed specific weaknesses in the team's defense and perimeter shooting against an experienced opponent.

Coach Tommy Lloyd attributed the early struggles to the novelty of new players in new roles. He noted that the team was punched in the face and lost its way momentarily. Lloyd expressed pride in how his players fought back from the deficit.

The Wildcats' supporting cast combined for 37 points while Kharchenkov carried the offensive load. Senior center Mo Krivas, the Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year, managed just eight points on two baskets. He drew nine fouls while battling double teams that clogged the paint.

UCLA's defense focused on collapsing onto Krivas, forcing Arizona to take open looks from the perimeter. The Wildcats attempted 30 shots from beyond the arc on Monday, a sharp increase from their 16 attempts per game a year ago. They converted just 23 percent of those tries, sinking only one in the first half.

Lloyd said the team must continue shooting when opponents concede the three-point line. He emphasized that there is no panic after a single game and that the players need to figure out the rhythm against heavy defensive schemes.

Rebounding presented another challenge for Arizona. UCLA secured 16 offensive rebounds, including one by freshman Nikola Kusturica who tipped the ball to himself over two Wildcats. The Bruins outrebounded Arizona in the first half and won the overall rebounding battle. Arizona finished with 44 rebounds, one more than UCLA, but Lloyd was dissatisfied with the loose ball efforts.

The absence of fifth-year forward RJ Godfrey, who is holding out for a court injunction, limited frontcourt depth. Freshman guard Caleb Holt struggled against the experienced UCLA backcourt, scoring seven points on 2-of-7 shooting. Lloyd viewed the performance as a learning process for a young roster that will require contributions from multiple underclassmen throughout the season. He told his team that the result does not define their individual or collective season.