Arizona’s Summer Test in Lithuania
The Arizona Wildcats opened their Lithuanian Summer Tour with a 99‑88 defeat to the B Team of Lithuania, played in the town of Jovanos before a packed house at the Jovanos Sporto Arena.
From the outset the Wildcats trailed by eleven points, but a surge in the third quarter cut the margin to eight, only to see Lithuania pull away again in the final minutes.
Rebounding proved a decisive factor, as Lithuania outrebounded Arizona by eighteen boards, while the Wildcats shot just 11‑of‑32 from beyond the arc compared to Lithuania’s 3‑of‑18 effort.
Ivan Kharchenkov was the most consistent offensive threat, delivering 25 points, four assists, two steals and no turnovers in 27 minutes, while freshman Caleb Holt added 13 points, six rebounds, five assists and four steals.
Veterans Derek Dixon and Motiejus Krivas each contributed ten points, but the collective effort fell short of the team’s expectations.
What’s Next for the Wildcats?
The next test arrives on Thursday, August 20, when Arizona faces Ukraine at 7:00 a.m. MST; the game will be streamed live on the @ArizonaMBB YouTube channel, offering the Wildcats a chance to adjust before the season begins.