Arizona's Ayton, PJC, Alkins combine for 65 points in win at Utah

Ariona Wildcats Basketball


On a night when 4th-ranked Arizona State loses in Boulder to Colorado 90-81 in overtime, the 14th-ranked Arizona Wildcats withstood a 50-point second half from Utah and picked up a Pac-12 win in Salt Lake City 94-82 over the Utes.

Arizona led at the half 46-32, thanks to point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright, who led the Wildcats with 13 points. In the second half, Utah came alive and started hitting 3-pointers and tied the game at 77-77 with 3:45 remaining on the clock, but Arizona scored the next 11 points to ice the game and go up 88-77 before Utah's Tyler Rawson canned a 3-pointer with 1:21 remaining.

Once again Deandre Ayton picked up a double-double with 24 points and 14 rebounds for the Wildcats, while Rawle Alkins finished with 22 points and PJC ended up with 19 points.That, of course, adds up to 65 points for the trio. Dusan Ristic added 11 points to go along with nine rebounds and Allonzo Trier dished out five assists and scored seven points.

Arizona shot 50 percent from the field (30 of 60) and grabbed 46 rebounds, while Utah ended up with 44.1 percent from the field (26 of 59) and hauled down 23 rebounds.

The Wildcats win their ninth straight game and improve to 12-3 and 2-0 in the Pac-12 Conference. As for Arizona State, they lost a tough one in Boulder and fall to 12-2 and 0-2 in the conference.

Way to go, Wildcats!