Arizona holds off 19-point comeback, beats No. 16 Cincinnati 72-67

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Arizona guard Caleb Love (1) reacts after scoring during an NCAA college basketball game against Cincinnati, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

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Arizona forward Henri Veesaar (13) reacts after scoring during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Cincinnati, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

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Arizona’s Jaden Bradley, center, speaks with teammates in a huddle during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Cincinnati, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

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Arizona forward Carter Bryant (9) dunks over Cincinnati forward Tyler Betsey (14) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

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Arizona guard Caleb Love, right, shoots against Cincinnati forward Arrinten Page (22) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

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Cincinnati head coach Wes Miller reacts during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arizona, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

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Arizona forward Henri Veesaar (13) dunks over Cincinnati forward Tyler Betsey (14) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

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Cincinnati forward Dillon Mitchell dunks during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arizona, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

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Arizona players huddle during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Cincinnati, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

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Cincinnati’s Dan Skillings Jr. reacts during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arizona, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

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Cincinnati forward Dillon Mitchell (23) is fouled by Arizona’s Trey Townsend, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

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Cincinnati’s Day Day Thomas (1) speaks with teammate Dan Skillings Jr. (0) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arizona, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

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Arizona’s Caleb Love reacts during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Cincinnati, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

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Arizona’s Jaden Bradley (0) takes a free throw during an NCAA college basketball game against Cincinnati, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

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The Arizona bench reacts during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Cincinnati, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

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Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd gestures during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Cincinnati, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

By GARY SCHATZ

CINCINNATI (AP) — Jaden Bradley had 15 points, including two free throws that helped Arizona clinch a 72-67 win over No. 16 Cincinnati on Saturday.

Carter Bryant added 14 points and Caleb Love scored 12 as Arizona (8-5, 2-0 Big 12) won it’s second straight game.

Cincinnati (10-3, 0-2) lost for the second straight game. Dan Skillings Jr. scored 18 points and had two steals.

The Bearcats were down 19 points with just over 17 minutes remaining. They tied it at 64 with 58 seconds left on Skillings’ layup. That was as close as they’d get to a comeback win.

Dillon Mitchell added 13 points for the Bearcats.

Takeaways

Arizona averaged about 97 points in its seven wins coming into this game, including three games over 100. It averaged 70 in its five losses. The 72 points are the Wildcats’ third-lowest point total of the season.

Cincinnati started the season 6-0, but has dropped three of its last seven games.

Key moment

Love stole a pass from Jizzle James with under 10 seconds to go in the first half and was fouled by Skillings with less than a second remaining. He made one of two at the free-throw line to give the Wildcats a 39-26 halftime lead.

Not PARSE.LY: College basketball

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George Mason faces Richmond, looks for 8th straight home win

Key stat

Cincinnati has committed 39 turnovers in its three losses.

Up next

Both teams play Tuesday night: Arizona visits West Virginia and Cincinnati visits No. 25 Baylor.

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