Wildcats stay atop the Pac-12 standings

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


The Arizona Wildcats (20-6, 10-3), led by a 20-point effort from Rawle Alkins, knocked off USC 81-67 at McKale tonight and tightened their hold on first place in the Pac-12 Conference.

Alkins added three rebounds, five assists, one steal and a block shot to the stat sheet and hit 4 of 7 3-pointers to give the Wildcats the spark they needed to upend the Trojans, who came to town looking to beat Arizona and climb into first place in the conference.

Four Arizona starters scored in double figures as Dusan Ristic added a double-double to the cause with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Deandre Ayton tallied 18 points to go along with seven rebounds and Allonzo Trier covered the stat sheet with 14 points, four assists, one steal and eight rebounds.

Arizona shot 56.1 percent (32 of 57) and canned 9 of 20 from long range -- four by Alkins, three by Trier, one by Ayton and one by Parker Jackson-Cartwright, who finished with five points, four assists, two steals and just one turnover.

The 13th-ranked Wildcats snap their two-game losing streak and right the ship on a day which saw No. 2 Virginia, No. 3 Purdue and No. 10 Kansas, all lose.