Arizona Wildcats center Oumar Ballo (11) reacts after scoring and being fouled during the second half against the Duke Blue Devils at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Defense puts exclamation point on No. 12 Arizona's upset win over No. 2 Duke

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 11/10/23

The 2023-24 college basketball season may be in its infancy, but the upsets have already arrived. On Friday, No. 12 Arizona stunned No. 2 Duke, 78-73, at Cameron Indoor Stadium in what was a total team effort. Fittingly, a gritty defensive effort helped the Wildcats secure the win.

With Arizona up by three and five seconds left in the fourth quarter, a trio of guards combined to make a game-sealing play. First, Pelle Larsson knocked down a half-court inbounds pass, which Caleb Love scooped up before feeding freshman KJ Lewis for an emphatic two-handed slam-dunk.

ARIZONA BEATS DUKE AT CAMERON INDOOR pic.twitter.com/Ym6qEPmxN6
— ESPN (@espn) November 11, 2023

Lewis didn't start and finished with only six points, but he was integral to the Wildcats' effort, adding three rebounds and two assists over 14 minutes of action.

He went ALL THE WAY UP for this and-1!@thekjlewis | #BearDown

ESPN2
https://t.co/vcn0JUz7W1 pic.twitter.com/5Ekl0pSHGq
— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) November 11, 2023

Every Arizona player played over 10 minutes in the win, and each scored at least four points. Meanwhile, all five starters finished in double-figures for the Wildcats on Friday night, including Love (11), Larsson (12), guard Kylan Boswell (12), center Oumar Ballo (13) and forward Keshad Johnson (14).

Love, a transfer from Duke's hated rival, North Carolina, added salt to the wound, making sure to say goodbye to the Cameron Crazies after the win.

Caleb Love waves goodbye to the Cameron Crazies in Arizona’s win over Duke pic.twitter.com/w0FIrabShb
— Brian Rauf (@brauf33) November 11, 2023

The massive win for Arizona helps them improve to 2-0, while Duke head coach Jon Scheyer suffers his first home defeat, dropping the Blue Devils to 1-1.

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