BJ Freeman headbutts Caleb Love, leads to multiple ejections in Arizona vs. Arizona State

During the final minute of Arizona’s 81-72 win vs. Arizona State, Sun Devils guard BJ Freeman appeared to headbutt Wildcats guard Caleb Love. The incident led to both players being ejected from Saturday’s game.

Freeman was called for the technical foul immedietely after the incident, and it escalated from there. Love had to be restrained by his teammates while arguing his case with the officials. Eventually, the two sides were separated and the officials went and reviewed the play.

Watch the tense moment below:

Caleb Love has been ejected after a confrontation with Arizona State's BJ Freeman. pic.twitter.com/sQx2iMjblB

— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) February 1, 2025

It’s a tough loss for Arizona State to swallow on their home floor. Losing to their in-state rival by nearly double digits. Freeman did all he could to help his team win, scoring 19 points on 4 of 10 shooting from deep but in the end was not enough to win the game.

Love scored a game-high 27 points having made five 3-pointers along with seven assists and six rebounds before getting tossed in the waning moments of the rivalry game.

The victory continues a trend for the fifth-year senior, who has scored at least 22 points in three of Arizona’s last four games. That included hitting a 55-foot prayer to send the game vs. No. 3 Iowa State this week to overtime. He’d hit a couple of 3-pointers in overtime to help lead Arizona to a 86-75 win in OT.

Arizona has now won 11 of its last 12 games dating back to the middle of December. The win improved them to 9-1 in Big 12 play, and are in sole possession of second place behind Houston in the current conference standings.

Bobby Hurley refuses to shake hands with Tommy Lloyd, Arizona State leaves bench early after BJ Freeman headbutt

Multiple players were ejected in the final minutes of Saturday’s Arizona vs. Arizona Stategame. That tension boiled over the rest of the way, and the Sun Devils left the court early.

Arizona State’s players headed to the locker room as time ticked away in the game, and Bobby Hurley refused to shake hands with Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd in the process. That exchange occurred after BJ Freeman and Caleb Love were ejected for a headbutt late in the second half.

The ejections occurred with 30 seconds left in Saturday’s rivalry matchup. Arizona held on for the 81-72 victory, and the two teams will square off once again in March.

On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.