The No. 7-ranked Arizona Wildcats dropped their fifth game of the season on Saturday, but this loss was unlike any this season.Â
Arizona split the seasons series with rival Arizona State after Sun Devils guard Desmond Cambridge Jr. heaved — and made — a 60-foot half-court shot at the buzzer to stun the Wildcats 89-88.Â
UA center Oumar Ballo had a chance to give the Wildcats an 89-86 lead with 2.9 seconds left in the game, but he missed the first free-throw and then made the second attempt to lead 88-86. Without a timeout to use to potentially draw up a long pass or half-court shot, ASU inbounded the ball to Cambridge. With his feet planted on the Lute Olson signature emblazoned on the McKale Center court, Cambridge's heroics delivered one of the most impressive wins by the Sun Devils in the rivalry's history.Â
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd addressed the loss in his postgame press conference. Here are the most pertinent items he discussed:Â
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'We're not hanging our heads at all'
“That was a heck of a game. … We’re not hanging our heads at all.†— Tommy Lloyd after No. 7 Arizona’s stunning loss to ASU
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
Philosophy on defense, missed FT
Should Oumar Ballo have missed the second free-throw on purpose? Tommy Lloyd explains…
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
Azuolas Tubelis struggled on defense
Tommy Lloyd didn’t mince words when assessing Azuolas Tubelis’ performance against ASU. “I thought defensively he was bad. He just didn’t play great defense tonight and that’s kinda disappointing. … He’s gotta play better.â€
— Justin Spears (@JustinESports)
Accepting the loss
“What are the chances a team makes a shot like that? Very slim. … It happens sometimes.†— Tommy Lloyd on ASU guard Desmond Cambridge’s half-court buzzer-beater to upset Arizona
— Justin Spears (@JustinESports)
Change in the starting lineup for Senior Day
Asked Tommy Lloyd if starting senior walk-ons Jordan Mains and Matthew Lang disrupted Arizona’s flow against ASU. “Not really. … That’s stuff you do to create good karma in your program. … We gave up 2s and 3s no matter who was out there.â€
— Justin Spears (@JustinESports)
ASU's offense
Tommy Lloyd on ASU shooting 54% against the Wildcats:
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
Cedric Henderson leaving his mark at McKale Center
Tommy Lloyd on Arizona forward Cedric Henderson’s 19-point performance on Senior Day:
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster)
Photos: Arizona State upsets #7 Arizona Wildcats, Pac-12 basketball
Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa (25) heads off the court as the Arizona State spill onto the court to celebrate their 89-88 buzzer-beater at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona State players chase guard Desmond Cambridge Jr. (4) down the court after his buzzer-beater from beyond half-court gave the Sun Devils an 89-88 upset over Arizona at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona guard Courtney Ramey walks off the court after the Wildcats fell on a buzzer-beater 89-88 to Arizona State at McKale Center on Feb. 25, 2023.
Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa (25) gets jostled in his attempt to dump a pass over Arizona State forward Jamiya Neal (5) in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona guard Courtney Ramey (0), top, manages to dislodge the ball from Arizona State guard DJ Horne (0) for a moment in the first half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) gets called for leveling Arizona State forward Warren Washington (22) while backing into the lane in the first half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis hauls in an inlet pass among the Arizona State defense in the first half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center on Feb. 25, 2023.
Arizona State forward Alonzo Gaffney (32) gets an armful of Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) while trying to dribble into the lane in the first half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center.
Arizona Tommy Lloyd tries to rally the crowd in the early going against Arizona State at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley has a discussion with one of the game officials after a call against his Sun Devils during a first-half timeout against Arizona at McKale Center on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023.
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3), left, guard Kerr Kriisa (25) and center Oumar Ballo (11) surround Arizona State forward Jamiya Neal (5) on his shot attempt in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) and Arizona State forward Jamiya Neal, left, chase an elusive rebound in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center on Feb. 25, 2023.
Arizona guard Cedric Henderson Jr. (45) gathers in the ball he pried away from Arizona State guard Frankie Collins (10) in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd coaches up forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) in the second half against Arizona State at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) offers a bit of flex after drawing a foul on a bucket against Arizona State in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, on Feb. 25, 2023.
Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley voices his displeasure to a call against the Sun Devils in the second half of their Pac-12 game against Arizona at McKale Center on Feb. 25, 2023.
Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa (25) hugs center Oumar Ballo (11) after he drew a foul on a shot against Arizona State in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) celebrates his score and his foul against Arizona State forward Warren Washington (22) in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona guard Cedric Henderson Jr. (45) watches his dunk attempt bounce away from the rim in the first half against Arizona State at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona State head coach Bobby Hurley and his bench react to a foul against the Sun Devils in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
All eyes are on the officials as Arizona center Oumar Ballo gets called for an offensive foul against Arizona State in the first half of their epic Pac-12 showdown at McKale Center on Feb. 25.
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) goes flying after colliding with Arizona State guard Frankie Collins (10) on a drive in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona State guard Devan Cambridge, left, paws at Arizona guard Cedric Henderson Jr. in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center on Feb. 25, 2023.
Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) goes in and picks up a foul from Arizona State forward Duke Brennan (24) in the first half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona State guard Frankie Collins (10) bats away shot from Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona State guard DJ Horne (0) and Arizona forward Jordan Mains (22) get tangled up in the lane chasing a loose ball in the first half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa (25), left, has a big hug for guard Matthew Lang (23) as he sub in for him in the first half against Arizona State at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona State guard Frankie Collins (10) picks up the foul guarding Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) in the first half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona guard Kylan Boswell gets hemmed in from all sides while looking for an open teammate against Arizona State in the first half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center in February.
Arizona guard Courtney Ramey (0) acknowledges the crowd as he takes the floor on senior night before the Wildcats' game against Arizona State at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona guard Cedric Henderson Jr. (45) gets fives from the crowd as the senior heads to the court for the Wildcats' final home game of the season against Arizona State at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
One of the members of the Pride of Arizona pep band uses the band's pad to get a message to center Oumar Ballo (11) before the game against Arizona State at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Arizona guard Kylan Boswell (4) poses for selfies with fans just before the Wildcats tip against Arizona State at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
In-game host Sarah Kezele gets the crowd fired up from the ZonaZoo student section before tipoff of the Arizona-Arizona State game.
Arizona governor Katie Hobbs heads for her seat for the Arizona/Arizona States game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 25, 2023.
Contact sports producer Justin Spears at jspears@tucson.com. On Twitter: @JustinESports
Justin Spears
Sports Reporter
Hansen's Sunday Notebook: Buzzer-beater loss is bad for UA, good for in-state rivalry
