Arizona Wildcats Claw Back for an Epic 87-83 Victory Over Oregon Ducks in NCAA Tournament Thriller

On Sunday, March 23, 2025, the Arizona Wildcats delivered a performance for the ages, staging a heart-pounding comeback to defeat the Oregon Ducks 87-83 in the second round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Held at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, this clash of former Pac-12 titans wasn’t just a game—it was a testament to resilience, strategy, and the unrelenting spirit of a team refusing to bow out of March Madness. With a trip to the Sweet 16 on the line, the Wildcats turned a 15-point deficit into a historic victory that will echo through Tucson for years to come.

The game started with Oregon asserting dominance, soaring to a 19-4 lead that left Arizona fans in stunned silence. The Ducks, led by the sharpshooting Jackson Shelstad and the towering presence of Nate Bittle, looked poised to quack their way to a blowout. Shelstad’s 25 points and Bittle’s double-digit scoring and rebounding kept Oregon flying high early. Meanwhile, Arizona struggled to find its rhythm, with turnovers and missed shots piling up like a desert mirage gone wrong. At one point, it seemed the Wildcats were on the verge of being swept away by an Oregon tidal wave.

But if there’s one thing Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd has instilled in this team, it’s grit. The Wildcats didn’t just weather the storm—they turned it into a full-on counterattack. Down by 15, Arizona chipped away with a blend of suffocating defense and timely offense. Caleb Love, the Wildcats’ maestro, orchestrated the turnaround with a game-high 29 points, including clutch buckets that shifted momentum. Jaden Bradley and Trey Townsend each added 12 points, providing the supporting firepower needed to claw back into contention. By halftime, Arizona had erased the deficit, heading to the locker room with a slim 42-38 lead—a psychological gut punch to the Ducks.

The second half was a rollercoaster of traded blows, with neither team willing to yield. Oregon fought valiantly, with TJ Bamba’s 17 points keeping the Ducks within striking distance. But Arizona’s late-game execution proved decisive. In the final minute, Lloyd’s tactical genius shone through: a smart foul to disrupt Oregon’s rhythm, flawless defensive rotations, and a steely resolve at the free-throw line sealed the deal. Anthony Dell’Orso and Love iced the game with critical free throws, pushing the score to 87-83 as the clock ticked down.

This wasn’t just a win—it was a record-breaker. Arizona’s 15-point comeback marked the largest in their NCAA Tournament history and the second-largest in Round of 32 lore. For a program with a storied legacy, this victory added a new chapter of tenacity under Lloyd’s leadership. Now, at 24-12, the No. 4-seeded Wildcats advance to face top-seeded Duke in Newark, New Jersey, setting the stage for a blockbuster Sweet 16 showdown.

For Arizona fans, this game was a rollercoaster of emotions—panic turned to hope, then erupted into euphoria. For Oregon, it’s a bitter pill after a valiant effort fell just short at 25-10. But in the unpredictable theater of March Madness, it’s the Wildcats who get to keep dancing. With Caleb Love leading the charge and Lloyd’s strategic brilliance at the helm, Arizona is proving they’re not just a team—they’re a force. Duke awaits, and the desert faithful are ready to see if this gritty squad can keep the magic alive.

Here is the post game press conference: