Oumar Ballo is looking like a problem for Arizona. He was certainly a problem on Wednesday for the Creighton Bluejays, one they couldn’t solve.

The fourth-year junior dominated in the paint in No. 14 Arizona’s 81-79 win over No. 10 Creighton, helping the Wildcats claim a third Maui Jim Maui Invitational title. Ballo scored 30 points and grabbed 13 boards while making 14 of his 17 shots. Three other Cats scored in double-digits for Arizona, which held off a late Creighton charge to hold on for the win.

Arizona won three games in three days to claim the title. It beat Cincinnati 101-93 on Monday, then beat No. 17 San Diego State 87-70 on Tuesday.

“I learned that we’re good and we’re tough and we’re gritty,” coach Tommy Lloyd said after the game. “We needed to come here and get tested. No game felt comfortable until the final horn went off.”

But Lloyd can probably find some comfort going forward knowing that he’s got a big man with the potential to completely dominate anyone who lines up across from him. The 7-footer averaged 21 points and 10 boards across the event while making 27 of his 34 shots.

Azuolas Tubelis got Arizona rolling to begin the event, posting a 30-point, 11-board game in the win over the Bearcats on Monday. He and Ballo combined for 26 points, 16 boards, and three blocks in the win over the Aztecs a day later. If Arizona has learned anything in the first few weeks of the season, it’s that the two bigs can ball.

“If you have the two best bigs in the country you have to give them the ball,” guard Kerr Kriisa said.

Ballo scored 10 of the Wildcats’ final 12 points on Wednesday, but Arizona led by 12 with 3:37 to play and Creighton nearly clawed all the way back.

Baylor Scheierman made a layup with 2:41 left to pull Creighton within seven points, 79-72. Ryan Nembhard made a layup and Scheierman a 3-pointer to bring the score to 81-77 with less than two minutes to play. Ryan Kalkbrenner made one of two free throws to cut the deficit to three.

Arizona’s Courtney Ramey (10 points, five assists) had a chance to deliver the dagger, but clanged a 3-ball off the back of the rim with 18 seconds left. The Wildcats denied Creighton’s initial actions and forced a timeout with 7.4 seconds left.

The ensuing play saw the ball swing to Kalkbrenner on the left wing for a briefly-open 3, but Ballo closed the space between the two bigs quickly and forced a pass out. Creighton was sent to the free throw line with two seconds left and, with Creighton down three, that effectively ended things.

Nembhard made the first and intentionally missed the second. Arizona rebounded and was able to run the clock out as Creighton tried to foul its way into the bonus.

So far this season, the Wildcats are getting nearly 40 a game from their two bigs — 19.3 for Tubelis and 19 for Ballo. With Ballo taking over for last year’s Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and Most Improved (Christian Koloko), the Wildcats were hoping for another breakthrough kind of campaign from the 5 spot.

Safe to say Ballo has delivered to date.

“I haven’t arrived, because we haven’t done anything yet,” Ballo said after the game. “It’s a marathon.”

The Wildcats are 6-0. They’ve shot north of 50% from the field in every game so far. As Lloyd looks to build on last year’s success, Arizona is off and running.