Associated Press

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Caleb Love matched his season-high with 24 points to help power Arizona to a 94-41 rout of Central Michigan on Saturday.

The Wildcats (6-5) won back-to-back games for the first time since beating Canisius and Old Dominion to open the season.

The Chippewas (5-6) scored the game’s first three points but Love knocked down three 3-pointers and scored 18 first-half points to put Arizona firmly in charge at intermission, 44-23.

Arizona shot 54.5% from the field, including 10 of 29 from distance, and got 44 points from its bench. K.J. Lewis hit 4 of 8 from the field and 5 of 5 from the line for 13 points to lead the reserves. Tobe Awaka added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The Wildcats dominated the boards, outrebounding the Chippewas 45-27.

Central Michigan struggled from the field, hitting just 14 of 54 (25.9%), including just 3 of 16 from distance. Cayden Vasko hit 4 of 13, including 2 of 5 from 3-point range, to lead the team with 10 points.

Arizona opens Big 12 Conference play at home when it plays host to TCU on Dec. 30. Central Michigan will look to snap its three-game losing string on Dec. 30 when it plays host to Cleary.

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After getting hired as Arizona’s offensive coordinator, Seth Doege said his scheme is one that can be effective through the air and on the ground. And now he’s added a playmaker who has shown the ability to produce in both areas in a similar system.

Former Texas State running back Ismail Mahdi has committed to Arizona, giving the Wildcats a versatile ball carrier who can also catch passes out of the backfield.

The 5-foot-9, 185-pound Mahdi ran for 2,322 yards and 14 touchdowns in two seasons with the Bobcats, adding 44 catches for 470 yards and three TDs as well as a score off a kick return. He has more than 3,500 all-purpose yards the last two seasons, with another 900 and five scores from the 2022 season at FCS Houston Christian.

Texas State runs a spread attack similar to what Doege used at Marshall, one that averaged 37.1 points and almost 475 yards per game this fall.

Ismail is Arizona’s 10th transfer pickup, fifth on offense and third at a skill position along with former New Mexico receiver Luke Wysong and ex-Washington State receiver Kris Hutson.

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Do you know the signs and symptoms of valley fever?

Cases hit a decade-high, and doctors want to ensure you know what to look for, especially with friends and family coming into town for the holidays.

The Arizona Department of Health Services has seen more than 14,000 cases of valley fever so far this year.

Valley fever is caused by a fungal infection. It’s not contagious, but it is often misdiagnosed and can make you very sick.

Its symptoms are the same as those of the flu or COVID-19, so many people brush it off as a virus – sometimes even doctors.

“That’s not an unusual situation where we have people visiting from out of state, and they go back to their home state, and then they develop an illness that ends up being diagnosed as valley fever,” said Dr. Wassim Ballan, an infectious disease specialist at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Ballan is encouraging Arizonans to educate visiting loved ones about the illness.

“Usually, we don’t expect that there would be this awareness of valley fever outside the state of Arizona, so it’s something we want people to keep in mind,” Ballan said.

The fungus that causes valley fever is unique to southwestern soil.

According to CDC data, valley fever cases increase during hot and dry periods. The Phoenix area has not had rain in months.

“The fungus releasing, if you want to call them spores, they hang out in the air and then they get breathed in through the lungs,” Ballan said.

Ballan says about 40% of those infected get symptoms, which can worsen over time.

“They seek medical care. They get diagnosed with pneumonia and bacterial pneumonia, so they start on antibiotics, and they don’t respond. So they get on a different course of antibiotics and so on,” said Ballan.

He says many have never even heard of valley fever, especially if they aren’t from Arizona or recently moved here.

This is the case with one Valley resident, Michael, who was hiking on Friday.

“I’ve not been here that long, maybe 18 months, so I’ve still got a lot to learn, I guess,” he said.

Ballan says it’s important to stay vigilant this holiday season.

“Because valley fever can present in a similar way to other respiratory infections, that’s a good reminder to try to prevent those other infections by making sure you’re vaccinated,” he said.

You can get valley fever from hiking or being out in the desert, but also, because it’s in the air, anyone can be exposed.

Valley fever is treated with antifungal medications.

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