Markkanen leads Wildcats to win over USC

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


The 14th-ranked Arizona Wildcats rolled early, sputtered down the stretch, but held on for a 73-66 win over USC tonight at the Galen Center in Los Angeles. The Wildcats led 29-19 at the end of the first half and led by as much as 23 points early in the second half.

Then the Trojans found their groove. Down 56-35 with 9:20 remaining, USC started drilling 3-pointers and with 1:03 left in the game had pulled within three points, at 67-64.

Markkanen banked in a long 3-pointer with 33 seconds left to give the Wildcats enough breathing room to hold off the Trojans. Markkanen finished the night with 23 points -- including 5 of 6 from three-point land. Rawle Alkins finished with 14 points, Kadeem Allen chipped in 11 and Kobi Simmons ended up with 10 points. Dusan Ristic added seven points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

Arizona improves to 17-2 and 6-0 in the Pac-12 Conference. The Wildcats have won 11 games in a row.

Next up: UCLA on Saturday.