Arizona blows 22-point lead, loses to ASU 66-65

Arizona Wildcats Basketball


Alonzo Verge Jr. scored on a layup with nine seconds remaining in the game to give Arizona State a 66-65 win over Arizona tonight in Tempe.

Arizona, up 22 points in the first half, let Arizona State close the gap to 43-30 at the half and then allowed the Sun Devils to score the first 10 points in the second half. It was game on from there for Arizona State.

With Nico Mannion on the bench with four fouls, Arizona went to Zeke Nnaji for help down the stretch. Nnaji  finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds, but without Mannion it turned into a real struggle for points for the Wildcats. In fact, Arizona's final two points of the game came with 1:41 left when Mannion returned and sank two free throws to give the Wildcats their final points of the game and a 65-63 lead.

ASU's Jalen Graham sank 1 of 2 free throws with 1:23 left in the game and Verge Jr. followed moments later with the game winner.

Arizona falls to 13-6 and 3-3 in Pac-12 play.