Arizona Beats San Diego State 82-67
Motiejus Krivas led the Wildcats with 17 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks in the exhibition win.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Basketball
The University of Arizona men's basketball team defeated San Diego State 82-67 on Friday, Oct. 16, in McKale Center at ALKEME Arena. The result was Arizona's second exhibition victory of the preseason.
Why it matters
The exhibition result gives Tucson fans an early look at the Wildcats' depth and frontcourt production before the regular season. Krivas, recently named Big 12 preseason player of the year, anchored the inside game in the win.
Krivas went 11-for-14 at the free-throw line while Ivan Kharchankov added 13 points and 12 rebounds. Caleb Holt finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and three steals.
The players
Motiejus Krivas
Krivas is a University of Arizona forward who was named Big 12 preseason player of the year.
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a public research university in Tucson whose men's basketball program competes in the Big 12 Conference.
The details
Arizona opened with a 5-0 run from Maksim Brnovic and led 42-30 at halftime after closing the first half on a 10-2 run. The Wildcats went through a four-minute scoring drought, missing eight consecutive field goals, but extended their lead to 59-46 early in the second half.
Timeline
Friday, Oct. 16: Arizona defeated San Diego State 82-67 in McKale Center at ALKEME Arena.
Friday, Oct. 23, 7 p.m.: Arizona plays its final exhibition game against Eastern Washington.
Season Trajectory
The exhibition sweep sets an early baseline for Arizona's 2025-26 campaign under its Big 12 preseason billing. Strong interior production from Krivas and Kharchankov positions the Wildcats as a contender in a conference that rewards rebounding and rim protection.
The exhibition results offer early reads on Arizona's rotation for fans tracking the roster. Krivas's rebounding and shot-blocking production may matter for fantasy and bracket planning once the regular season opens.
The takeaway
The strong second-half runs and interior dominance show Arizona can win with balance even when its shooting goes cold. Watching whether that formula holds against higher-level opponents will be the key test.
What happens next
Arizona plays its final exhibition game against Eastern Washington on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m.
Further reading
Follow more Wildcats coverage in our Basketball section.
