Arizona Wildcats Learn on Lithuanian Soil | College Basketball News

Arizona’s young Wildcats dropped a gritty 99-88 opener against Lithuania’s B Team, stumbling out of the gate with just 37 points in the first half — a deficit that proved too steep to overcome. Though they rallied in the second half and cut the lead to as few as eight, experience ultimately won out. Sophomore Ivan Kharchenkov led Arizona with 25 points, while Lithuanian native Motiejus Krivas added 10 in his homecoming — though he grabbed zero rebounds. Coach Tommy Lloyd framed the loss as a vital developmental step, stressing Krivas’s health is key for the season. Lithuania’s Matas Repšys poured in 24 points, including four threes, while Titas Januševičius chipped in 13 off the bench. The Lithuanians shot efficiently from the field and free throw line, outclassing Arizona in those critical areas. Up next: Ukraine Senior National Team. For now, it’s all about culture, cohesion, and preparing this young squad for the real grind ahead. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/604da69c55d5be96