Did Arizona resemble March Madness Final Four team in NCAA Tournament vs Long Beach State?

Look back at our game updates from the Arizona Wildcats vs. Long Beach State first-round NCAA Tournament West Region game on Thursday in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Arizona Wildcats entered the 2024 NCAA Tournament among the favorites in odds to win the national championship.

But questions remained about the team after its Pac-12 Tournament exit and its first-round March Madness loss to No. 15 seed Princeton as a No. 2 seed a year ago.

After a sleepy first 18 minutes against No. 15 Long Beach State on Thursday, Arizona answered the questions and removed doubt about this year's team, at least for now.

Tommy Lloyd's Wildcats, in fact, looked like Final Four and national championship contenders, as the odds say, in an 85-65 win over Long Beach State in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Saturday's March Madness picks, predictions: Dayton vs Arizona | Gonzaga vs Kansas | Michigan State vs North Carolina | Washington State vs Iowa State | Oakland vs NC State | Texas vs Tennessee | Duquesne vs Illinois | Oregon vs Creighton

Arizona and Long Beach State were tied at 35 with just over two minutes left in the first half before the Wildcats erupted on an impressive run to end the half (7-0) and start the second half (9-0) against Long Beach State, a 16-0 combined run.

Next up for Arizona?

No. 7 seed Dayton on Saturday. A win in that game would put the Wildcats in the Sweet 16, where they were eliminated in Lloyd's first season in 2021-22.

Arizona lost to Princeton last season in the first round, 59-55.

The Wildcats' starters made sure they wouldn't lose in the first round again on Thursday.

All five scored in double figures in the game, led by Kylan Boswell's 20 points and Caleb Love's 18 points.

Oumar Ballo had his 33rd career double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

Pelle Larsson had 15 points. Keshad Johnson had 13.

Arizona had just eight points from its bench, all from Jaden Bradley.

It was an impressive second-half performance for Arizona, which alleviated concerns from an anxious fanbase after last season's early exit, at least for now.

Fans now have another question for their team: Will the Wildcats continue to look like Final Four and National Championship contenders on Saturday?

Final score: Arizona 85, Long Beach State 65

Thursday's March Madness picks, predictions: Michigan State vs. Mississippi State | Duquesne vs. BYU | Akron vs. Creighton | Long Beach State vs. Arizona | Morehead State vs. Illinois | Oregon vs. South Carolina | Nevada vs. Dayton | Oakland vs. Kentucky | McNeese vs. Gonzaga | South Dakota State vs. Iowa State | Saint Peter's vs. Tennessee | NC State vs. Texas Tech | Samford vs. Kansas | Drake vs. Washington State | Wagner vs. North Carolina | Colorado State vs. Texas

Friday's March Madness picks, predictions: Northwestern vs. Florida Atlantic | Colgate vs. Baylor | UAB vs. San Diego State | Western Kentucky vs. Marquette | Stetson vs. UConn | New Mexico vs. Clemson | Yale vs. Auburn | Texas A&M vs. Nebraska | Vermont vs. Duke | Charleston vs. Alabama | Longwood vs. Houston | James Madison vs. Wisconsin | TCU vs. Utah State | Grand Canyon vs. Saint Mary's | Colorado vs. Florida | Grambling State vs. Purdue

Arizona four minutes from advancing vs. Long Beach State

Arizona holds an 82-60 lead with 3:53 left against Long Beach State.

Oumar Ballo has his 33rd career double double for the Wildcats, with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

Keshad Johnson has 13 points. Kylan Boswell and Caleb Love have 18 each. Pelle Larsson has scored 15.

Score: Arizona 82, Long Beach State 60 (3:53 left in second half)

Arizona maintains big lead against Long Beach State

Arizona leads Long Beach State by 17 with 7:22 left in the second half in Salt Lake City.

The Wildcats have impressed in the second half, outscoring their opponent, 29-18.

All five starters are now in double figures.

Arizona has just five bench points in the game.

Almost half of the Wildcats' made field goals have come from 3-point range. Arizona is 25-for-60 from the field and 12-for-29 from 3-point range.

Score: Arizona 70, Long Beach State 53 (7:22 left in second half)

Huge run propels Arizona Wildcats to big lead vs. Long Beach State

This game was tied, 35-35 with 2:14 left in the first half.

With 11:18 left in the game, Arizona now holds a 62-43 lead over Long Beach State.

Talk about a run.

Arizona has outscored Long Beach State in the second half of their first-round NCAA Tournament game, 21-8.

Barring an amazing comeback from Long Beach State, it appears that there will be no Round of 64 exit for the Wildcats this year.

Kylan Boswell leads Arizona with 16 points on 4-for-8 shooting from 3-point range in this game. Arizona is 11-for-27 from 3-point range in the game.

Score: Arizona 62, Long Beach State 43 (11:18 left in second half)

Arizona takes control of March Madness game vs. Long Beach State early in second half

Well, that was quick.

Arizona had outscored Long Beach State 14-2 in the first four minutes of the second half to take a 55-37 lead in the NCAA Tournament March Madness game in Salt Lake City.

The Wildcats have one of the best offenses in the country and it has shown up early in the second half.

Keshad Johnson has been a catalyst here in the second half and now has 13 points in the game.

Arizona went on a 16-0 run at the end of the first half through the start of the second half.

Score: Arizona 55, Long Beach State 37 (16:08 left in second half)

Arizona takes biggest game of lead early in second half vs. Long Beach State

The Wildcats have scored the first four points of the second half to build a 45-35 lead, their largest of the game.

Long Beach State has missed its first four shots of the second half.

Keshad Johnson is up to 10 points for the Wildcats, on 4-for-7 shooting from the field. Oumar Ballo only has four points for Arizona, but he had a game-high 10 rebounds and is making his presence felt on defense.

Score: Arizona 45, Long Beach State 35 (18:01 left in second half)

Arizona leads Long Beach State at halftime in March Madness

The No. 2 seed Arizona Wildcats lead No. 15 seed Long Beach State at the half in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday in Salt Lake City.

But not by much.

Arizona and Long Beach State were tied, 33-33 with three minutes left in the half before the Wildcats went on an 8-2 run to end the first 20 minutes and to give Tommy Lloyd's team at least a little bit of breathing room entering the second half.

Arizona is trying to avoid losing in March Madness in the first round for a second straight year. The Wildcats were upset by Princeton last season. Arizona was a No. 2 seed in that tournament, as well.

Only one player in this game is in double figures: Arizona's Kylan Boswell, who has 11 points.

Arizona is just 15-for-39 from the field, and 7-for-18 from 3. Long Beach State is 14-for-35 and 3-for-8 from 3-point range.

Score: Arizona 41, Long Beach State 35 (halftime)

Can Wildcats avoid upset vs. Long Beach State?

There is 3 minutes left in the first half and the game is tied, 33-33.

The score might prompt some thoughts from Arizona fans about their team possibly being upset in the first round of the NCAA Tournament again.

The longer Long Beach State hangs around, the more confidence it will have. And it is definitely hanging around and holding its own against Arizona so far.

Long Beach State is now up to 13-for-28 shooting from the field and 3-for-7 from 3. Arizona is 13-for-34 from the field and 6-for-15 from 3.

Score: Arizona 33, Long Beach State 33 (3:01 left in first half)

Arizona answers Long Beach State run with a run of its own

Arizona has answered Long Beach State's 13-0 run with a 7-0 run of its own to take a 24-22 lead 13 minutes into the game in Salt Lake City.

Arizona is 5-for-11 from 3 in this game, but just 9-for-27 from the field overall. Those threes have given the Wildcats a big boost.

Pelle Larsson has two fouls for the Wildcats.

Score: Arizona 24, Long Beach State 22 (6:40 left in first half)

Long Beach State goes on big run vs. Arizona Wildcats

Long Beach State has scored 13 straight points against Arizona, turning an 8-point deficit into a 5-point lead.

Amari Stroud has provided a big boost off the bench, scoring a game-high seven points. Long Beach State has 13 point points.

Arizona isn't helping its cause. The Wildcats have missed several layups and close shots. Arizona missed ten straight field goal attempts at one point.

Score: Long Beach State 22, Arizona 17 (8:16 left in first half)

Long Beach State staying close to Arizona in March Madness game

Arizona opened up a 17-9 lead on Long Beach State, but Long Beach State scored four straight to pull within 17-13 almost nine minutes into the game in Salt Lake City.

Both of these teams love to play fast and the pace of this game is extremely fast.

Arizona is now 4-of-8 on 3-pointers in the game, but just 6-for-17 from the field.

Long Beach State is 5-for -16 from the field. It has a 13-9 rebounding advantage.

Score: Arizona 17, Long Beach State 13 (11:35 left in first half)

Arizona taking advantage of Long Beach State's zone early in NCAA Tournament game

Long Beach State is utilizing a zone to start the game against Arizona.

The Wildcats are making them pay.

Arizona has hit some open 3-pointers to take a 9-5 lead five minutes into the West Region matchup.

Arizona is 3-for-6 from 3-point range, accounting for all of the Wildcats' points. They are 3-for-10 from the field.

Neither team is shooting well. Long Beach State is just 2-for-9 from the field and 1-for-4 from 3-point range.

Score: Arizona 9, Long Beach State 5 (14:55 left in first half)

How Arizona, Long Beach State got into March Madness

Arizona was an at-large selection into the NCAA Tournament,. The Wildcats went 25-8 overall and 15-5 in the Pac-12.

Long Beach State was 21-14 overall and 10-10 in the Big West.

It lost its last five regular season games, then won the Big West Conference Tournament to earn an automatic bid into March Madness.

How to watch Arizona vs Long Beach State in NCAA Tournament

When: Thursday, March 21, 11 a.m. Pacific time (2 p.m. ET)

Where: Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, Utah

TV channel: TBS

Announcers: Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Brendan Haywood (analyst), Dana Jacobson (reporter)

Streaming: Sling TV

STREAM THE GAME: Watch Arizona vs. Long Beach State live with Sling TV

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Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona basketball vs. Long Beach State March Madness score, analysis