Wildcats fall to Gonzaga

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


For twenty-seven minutes the unranked Arizona Wildcats were the best team on the floor.

Then things changed as the third-ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs (5-0) took over and turned a 13-point deficit into a 60-56 lead midway through the second half at the Maui Invitational. Of course a fourth foul on Chase Jeter, followed by a technical foul for arguing the referee's call put the young man on the bench for the rest of the game and Gonzaga held off the surprising Wildcats the rest of the way to win the semifinal matchup 91-74 and advance to the championship game on Wednesday against the top-ranked Duke Blue Devils (5-0).

Arizona's hot-shooting guard Justin Coleman tried to bring the Wildcats back, but suddenly the shots were not falling and everything the Bulldogs threw up went in. Coleman, who tossed in 18 points in the tournament opener, scored 17 in the first half tonight and added another 11 in the second half to finish with 28 points.

With 5:45 left in the game, Gonzaga was in command with a 71-65 advantage. Two minutes later, the Bulldogs were up 79-69 and it turned into a blowout from there. Brandon Randolph finished with 19 points and Brandon Williams added 15.

Gonzaga outscored the Wildcats 54-29 in the second half.

Still, a great showing by the Wildcats (4-1) at the Maui Invitational. Arizona will finish off the tournament with a game against Auburn (4-1) on Wednesday.