Arizona's Interior Dominance Overwhelms ASU in Rivalry Matchup

Wildcats' size and physicality prove too much for Sun Devils in Territorial Cup clash

Jan. 31, 2026 at 5:55pm

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The top-ranked Arizona Wildcats used their overwhelming size and strength in the paint to defeat the Arizona State Sun Devils 87-74 in their latest Pac-12 rivalry matchup. Arizona outscored ASU 50-20 in the paint and outrebounded the Sun Devils 47-32, including a 16-6 advantage on the offensive glass. The Wildcats' frontcourt duo of Koa Peat and Motiejus Krivas combined for 36 points, while ASU struggled to convert layups and was forced to settle for midrange jumpers.

Why it matters

This game highlighted the stark contrast in physicality and interior dominance between the two in-state rivals. Arizona's roster construction, with five starters weighing 200 pounds or more, has allowed them to overwhelm opponents in the paint all season. The Wildcats' ability to "duck in" and seal off driving lanes proved particularly problematic for the smaller Sun Devils, who were unable to match Arizona's brute force in the low post.

The details

Arizona controlled the game through its dominance in the paint, scoring 50 points down low compared to just 20 for ASU. The Wildcats shot a mere 4-of-17 on layups, as their lack of size and strength compared to Arizona's frontcourt forced them to settle for midrange jumpers late in the shot clock. Arizona also held a commanding 47-32 rebounding advantage, including 16 offensive boards, further highlighting their physical superiority.

  • The previous matchup between the two teams took place on January 14 in Tucson, where Arizona also controlled the paint and rebounding.
  • On Saturday, the rebounding margin was just two at halftime, but Arizona pulled away in the second half with a 24-10 advantage on the glass.

The players

Koa Peat

A 6-foot-8, 235-pound freshman forward for Arizona who had a highlight-reel dunk that helped the Wildcats pull away late.

Motiejus Krivas

Arizona's 7-foot-2, 260-pound junior center who combined with Peat to dominate the interior and score 36 points.

Tobe Awaka

A 6-foot-8, 255-pound senior forward for Arizona who scored 7 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench.

Bobby Hurley

The head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils, who acknowledged his team's inability to match Arizona's physicality in the paint.

Moe Odum

A senior guard for Arizona State who hit three 3-pointers to keep the Sun Devils in the game, but admitted his team struggled to convert layups against Arizona's size.

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What they’re saying

“We had our chances. We could not deal with their strength, their size, their ability to do things physically. Our roster could not stay.”

— Bobby Hurley, Head Coach, Arizona State Sun Devils (on3.com)

“In the first half, we matched up with them, physically. We met him at the rim. We contested shots. We were being physical. We made maybe two, three hard fouls, so he was matching physicality. Like I said, when the second half comes, our intensity goes down. Energy goes down.”

— Moe Odum, Senior Guard, Arizona State Sun Devils (on3.com)

What’s next

The Sun Devils will look to rebound from this loss when they host the Oregon Ducks on February 4th, while the Wildcats will aim to continue their undefeated season when they travel to face the USC Trojans on February 3rd.

The takeaway

Arizona's dominant performance in the paint and on the glass underscores the Wildcats' status as the top team in college basketball. Their physical advantage, led by a frontcourt that overwhelms opponents, has been a key factor in their undefeated start to the season. For Arizona State, this game serves as a reminder that they must find ways to match up with elite interior teams if they hope to compete with the Pac-12's best.