TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Brayden Burries scored 20 points, Ivan Kharchenkov added 14 and top-ranked Arizona overcame a sluggish start to rout Bethune-Cookman 107-71 on Monday night.
The Wildcats (12-0) remained No. 1 in this week's AP Top 25 after shutting down San Diego State on Saturday, but labored early on offense in the final game before their holiday break.
Careless at times with the ball, Arizona allowed Bethune-Cookman (3-9) to hang around until ratcheting up its defensive pressure midway through the first half.
Arizona used a big run to build a 14-point halftime lead and shot 57% from the floor to match its best start since opening 12-0 in 2014-15. The Wildcats scored 50 points in the paint, grabbed 20 more rebounds and converted 36 points off Bethune-Cookman's 22 turnovers.
Arizona point guard Jaden Bradley had 11 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Arizona is one of six remaining undefeated teams in Division I and has seven straight wins by at least 20 points, its longest streak since eight straight 20-point wins in 1929, according to Sportradar.
Jordan Johnson led Bethune-Cookman with 18 points.
Bethune-Cookman took then-No. 20 Auburn to overtime in its season opener and kept Arizona within reach early by forcing turnovers and hitting 3-pointers.
Arizona took control behind its defense, using a 14-2 run to go up 16 and led 49-35 at halftime.
Bethune-Cookman shot 12 of 24 from the floor and made five 3-pointers in the first half, but had 14 turnovers that led to 24 Arizona points.
Arizona made eight of its first nine shots to start the second half, stretching the lead to 71-49.
Bethune-Cookman: Plays at Oklahoma State on Dec. 29.
Arizona: Hosts South Dakota State on Dec. 29.
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Bethune-Cookman guard Jakobi Heady, top right, blocks a shot byon Arizona forward Ivan Kharchenkov (8) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A pair of NBA head coaches defended Memphis and its culture Friday following criticism by Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James that the Grizzlies should just relocate to Nashville.
Current Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo and Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic, an assistant in Memphis before taking over as head coach of Toronto, said their experiences did not match the comments by James in a "Bob Does Sports” YouTube video earlier this week.
James criticized Memphis and indicated the NBA would be better off if the Grizzlies moved 200 miles east to Nashville where Tennessee's capital city has Vanderbilt University, NASCAR and even the NHL's Predators. He even said he might have opted to say he wouldn't play in Memphis if the Grizzlies had the first pick in the 2003 draft.
“I can say from my own perspective that I have the complete opposite — 180-degree perspective on that,” Iisalo said. “The Memphis where we have arrived less than two years ago has been very warm. Very welcoming.”
Rajakovic added: “I don't care what the rest of the world thinks. I love the people of Memphis. I love the food. I love every single time I come over here.”
James' criticism included NBA players having nothing to do when teams arrive in Memphis for games.
“In Memphis on a (expletive) random (expletive) Thursday," James said. "I’m not even the first guy to talk about it in the NBA, like, ‘You guys have to move. Go over to Nashville.’”
The Raptors arrived in Memphis a day before Friday night's game and visited St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which treats childhood cancer patients at no charge to families. Rajakovic called the visit inspiring with his players thanking him for taking them to the hospital to meet patients.
The coaches of the Grizzlies and Raptors have short ties to Memphis with Iisalo in just his second season and first as head coach. Iisalo said Memphis features one of the NBA's most passionate fan bases with the city rallying behind its team.
"All I can say is Memphis is the right place for the Grizzlies,” Iisalo said.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/NBA
Toronto Raptors head coach Darko Rajakovic directs his team against the Detroit Pistons during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, talks to guard Bronny James during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Memphis Grizzlies head coach Tuomas Iisalo watches play against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, March 23, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
