Wed Jan 01 18:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Love’s 33 Points Power Wildcats to Big 12 Victory Over TCU

**Tucson, AZ** – Arizona Wildcats guard Caleb Love exploded for a season-high 33 points, leading his team to a 90-81 victory over TCU in their Big 12 debut Monday night at McKale Center. Love’s performance, which included 11-of-17 shooting and 5-of-11 from three-point range, proved decisive against a tough TCU team.

The win came with a bittersweet undertone, as center Motiejus Krivas will miss the rest of the season due to a foot injury. However, Henri Veesaar stepped up, contributing 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, while KJ Lewis set a career high with 8 assists off the bench.

Love’s offensive outburst wasn’t solely a matter of individual brilliance. The Wildcats displayed impressive ball movement, assisting on 28 of their 33 field goals, a testament to their improved team play. Coach Tommy Lloyd praised the team’s synergy and ball movement, noting a marked improvement from earlier in the season.

TCU coach Jamie Dixon acknowledged Love’s dominance, stating, “We didn’t have an answer for Love. They killed us offensively.” He highlighted the correlation between a team’s leading guard’s performance and the outcome of the game.

The energetic McKale Center crowd of approximately 13,000 fueled the Wildcats, creating an atmosphere that rivaled many past Pac-12 games. This energy, combined with the team’s improved cohesion, helped Arizona overcome several second-half challenges, where TCU closed the gap to just one point on multiple occasions.

Despite a less-than-stellar three-point performance from players other than Love (2-for-11 combined), the Wildcats’ balanced scoring attack, with contributions from Bryant (7 points), Townsend (8 points), and Awaka (9 points), proved crucial in securing the victory. The team’s improved poise in close games, according to Lloyd, signals a positive shift in their ability to handle pressure situations. The Wildcats’ win marks a strong start to their Big 12 campaign, showcasing both individual brilliance and improved team chemistry.

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