The defending Pac-12 champions returned to the court inside McKale Center Friday night for the First Watch Red-Blue Game. Arizona debuted new uniforms for the new season, showed off some new additions to the roster, and welcomed back a number of program alumni for a sold-out event.

The Blue team came away with a tight win, 49-45. Freshman forward Henri Veesaar and fourth-year center Oumar Ballo each put up 16 points to lead all scorers.

“I just liked to see our guys under the lights and see how they respond,” coach Tommy Lloyd said after. “It’s great to play basketball in front of a full stadium. You can’t simulate that experience in practice. But we’ll break this film down and we’ll treat it like we would any other postgame.

“There’s going to be some really good things, and there will be some obvious things we need to get better at. Obviously, we need to be better at rebounding, we need to get better taking care of the ball, but I think that’s par for the course. There’s lots of things to figure out. It’s Day 4.”

Ballo certainly stood out. He’s looking to take over in the middle for Christian Koloko — the Pac-12’s Defensive Player of the Year and the Most Improved player a season ago. In 15 minutes a night off the bench, Ballo averaged 6.8 points and 4.4 rebounds.

Working for the Blue Team on Friday night, Ballo had 16 points on 8-of-13 shooting, seven boards, and a steal. He showcased some nifty footwork on a post spin and drop-in for two…

And he ran the floor for a transition dunk that ignited the crowd…

Ballo stepped in front of a pass on the other end and then took off down the floor. The 7-footer spent his offseason, in part, doing some boxing training with Azoulas Tubelis and it certainly showed.

“I’m not sure I could make that play last year because I was not that fast,” Ballo said after the game.

Added Lloyd: “I think Oumar is going to have a great year. He’s worked really hard and he is ready for this opportunity.”

Other highlights from the evening included Tubelis winning the dunk contest before the scrimmage with a reverse baseline flush…

… and Kerr Kriisa connecting with Veesaar for a throw-down…

… and Kriisa dunking it himself.

The UA welcomed Aari McDonald, Frank Caliendo, Mark Wystrach, A.J. Bramlett, Lauri Markkannen, Stanley Johnson, Jason Terry, and Deandre Ayton to the court as judges for the Dunk Contest.

And, of course, brought RJ Jefferson back for the evening.

The Wildcats will look to defend their regular-season and conference tournament championships in Lloyd’s second season at the helm this year. Arizona will play a pair of exhibitions at home before the start of the regular season, with the first one against Western Oregon on Tuesday, Nov. 1. The regular season begins at home on Nov. 7 against Nicholls.