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WACO, Texas – Turns out, there was no ass-kicking. Not even close.

In fact, after Arizona beat Baylor 74-67 to snap its two game losing streak Monday at Foster Pavilion, Wildcats coach Tommy Lloyd barely acknowledged that he brought up the notion that his team might suffer such a terrible thing.

After UA had lost at Kansas State and to Houston last Saturday at McKale Center, Lloyd told the media that “you guys all think we're going to go get our ass kicked at Baylor,� because of fatigue, the quick travel to Waco and their sudden losing habits.

Then the Wildcats mostly regained their offensive mojo on Monday while shooting 48.3%, successfully worked Estonian 7-footer Henri Veesaar into the starting lineup for the first time in his career, and hopped a midnight charter flight home with two days of rest ahead.

Life was good for the Wildcats, again.

“What comment did I make to you?� Lloyd said Monday, and when reminded of the ass-kicked expectation, added: “Maybe. I don't know. Maybe I was getting myself juiced up.

“I knew coming in here today that losing was a possibility, and there's no shame in it. Scott (Drew, Baylor coach) does an amazing job. But I also knew today's win was important for our season and our team, and we approach it as such.�

It was important, if the Wildcats (18-8, 12-3) want to stay in the Big 12 race, in the hunt for one of four double-byes in the Big 12 Tournament and in the mix for a a preferred top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament.

But it was also important because of legacy: The Wildcats rarely lose three games in a row -- ever -- and haven’t done so since the COVID-shorted season of 2019-20, when they were led by freshmen and blunted by off-court issues.

But they were facing a third straight loss this time, at least in Lloyd’s mind, after late-game meltdowns against Kansas State and Houston, and with a mandate to travel to Baylor for a game just two days after the Houston loss.

“We felt like we had opportunities to win both those games, and you just don’t want to let a third one slip through,� Lloyd said. “But you're at Baylor. It’s a coin toss type game, if you're lucky. So I just thought we did a good job showing up with energy.�

A lot of that energy started up front, where Veesaar teamed with center Tobe Awaka to bowl over the undersized Bears, who had lost 6-10 center Josh Ojianwuna for the season since UA beat them at McKale Center on Jan. 14.

Awaka had 14 points and 12 rebounds after struggling during UA’s two past games. Veesaar added 13 points while shooting 4 for 6 from the field, plus 4 for 6 from the line, and collected five rebounds and four assists.

Together, they had a synergy that Lloyd had been aching to see. The two played more often together when power forward Trey Townsend missed two games with a concussion suffered at BYU on Feb. 4, though Townsend started upon his return against Houston.

On Monday, Townsend came off the bench for the first time in his entire four-plus-year career, which includes four seasons as a fulltime starter at Oakland.

“It's been something that's been on my mind for a while, and it's no demotion for anyone,� Lloyd said of starting Veesaar with Awaka. “I thought this might be a good opportunity to try it. I don't know if we'll stick with it long term but obviously for today, it was OK.�

The Wildcats also had balance and production from their wing players, with Caleb Love adding another 13 points while Anthony Dell'Orso had 11 after scoring just 19 points total in his previous six games.

It was all too much for Drew, who recalled that Veesaar was the same guy who had 19 points and seven rebounds off the bench against the Bears in UA's 81-70 win at McKale Center on Jan. 14.

"Both those guys were really good," Drew said of Veesaar and Awaka. "And we knew how good Henry was. I think their size, allowed them to get easies, and they've got veteran guards that don't get sped up, and they get the ball to the right spots."

Overall, the Wildcats shot 48.3% and set up 20 of their 28 field goals with assists, while holding Baylor to 40% shooting in both halves, though they weren’t nearly as efficient as the game wore on.

For them, that was the rub.

Arizona shot 60% from the field in the first half while taking a 41-33 halftime lead but just 36% in the second, decelerating over the last 13 minutes after all but taking the Bears – and their fans – out of the game.

With 12:49 left, Love threw down a dunk that gave UA a 53-39 lead and elicited notable groans from the crowd, and cheers from the 200 or so UA fans in the building.

But Baylor crept back to within four on three different occasions down the stretch, including when Norchad Omier hit a jumper to cut UA’s lead to 67-63 with 1:02 left, before UA held on with free throws in the final minute.

Baylor guard V.J. Edgecombe made two layups that each cut UA’s lead to three points in the final minute but KJ Lewis made 3 of 4 free throws while Love and Carter Bryant each made two during that time to keep the Wildcats safely ahead.

After Love hit his two free throws to put UA back ahead by five, 72-67, Baylor's Langston Love missed a 3 for Baylor with 15 seconds left, and fans started pouring out of Foster Pavilion.

The clock was hitting 11:30 p.m. local time, or about 56 hours after Lloyd was fretting about that really bad possibility his team faced, and maybe challenging his players through the media.

Or was he? Veesaar said he actually said no such thing to the players at least.

Whatever he said, the Wildcats responded.

“He told us to be ready,� Veesaar said. “Everybody can have a day off and have a rough schedule, flying back or flying to the next place, but that doesn't matter. It matters how you show up.�