Arizona Wildcats opened their European preseason slate with a 99‑88 defeat at the hands of Lithuania’s National B team, a result that left the Wildcats trailing 54‑37 at the half after a sluggish first 20 minutes in which they managed only 37 points.
Sophomore forward Ivan Kharchenkov was the bright spot, pouring in 25 points on 10‑of‑16 shooting, while senior center Motiejus Krivas contributed a modest two points before exiting after 11 minutes due to injury.
Lithuania’s bench proved potent, with Matas Repšys leading the scoring with 24 points and Titas Januševičius adding 13 off the bench, as the visitors shot 49 percent overall and hit 11 three‑pointers.
A Developmental Lens
Coach Tommy Lloyd framed the loss as part of the plan, emphasizing that the tour was designed for team bonding and exposure to high‑level international competition rather than immediate wins.
The Wildcats still have two more fixtures scheduled, including a clash with Ukraine’s senior national team before a rematch with Lithuania’s senior squad, using the experience to fine‑tune ahead of the 2026‑27 campaign.