Arizona Wildcats Basketball
Slow them down and hope they can't make a shot from downtown.
Well, Bobby Hurley caught wind of that strategy and for the entire first half and a few minutes into the second half it worked. It was ugly to watch as No. 3 Arizona had to battle to a 32-32 tie against Hurley and his Arizona State Sun Devils during the first 20 minutes at McKale Center today and then faltered for close to eight minutes in the second half before Bennedict Mathurin, who scored 14 points, canned a jumper to put the Wildcats up 45-44 with 11:52 remaining in regulation.
The Wildcats still couldn't breathe comfortably on their home court until Pelle Larsson banked in a three-point shot with six minutes remaining for a 57-48 lead. Christian Koloko, who finished with 12 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and five blocks, followed with a dunk at the 3:20 mark to give Arizona a 62-49 advantage.
Bottom line: Not pretty, but Arizona wins it 67-56 over its in-state-rival, ASU, as Oumar Ballo, played just 19 minutes off the bench for the Wildcats, scored 14 points and was a force, at times, underneath the bucket.
Arizona shot 32 percent from the field and made 3 of 23 from long range-- a dismal 13 percent. Point guard Kerr Kriisa continues to struggle from the field, but did hit two key three-pointers down the stretch to finish with six points.
Arizona, 17-2 and 7-1 in the Pac-12, await the UCLA Bruins at McKale on Thursday.
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