Awaka And Peat Help No. 1 Arizona Remain Undefeated With Win Over Arizona State

The No. 1-ranked Arizona Wildcats, caller disconnected their latest triumph complete nan TCU Horned Frogs, came backmost to McKale to dismantle their biggest rivals, nan ASU Sun Devils, successful beforehand of an ever ruckus crowd of passionate fans. Although it was not rather nan beatdown that fans had hoped for, Arizona still sewage nan occupation done.

TCU gave nan Wildcats their astir important situation successful immoderate time, astir matching them successful rebounds and second-chance points. Saturday's crippled was nan first clip successful 10 that Arizona did not outscore its opponents by astatine slightest 19 points. The past clip Arizona won a crippled by a single-digit separator was connected November 19, erstwhile it hit UConn 71-67.

Arizona (17-0) had to conflict done a gritty crippled pinch ASU (10-7), filled pinch physicality. The Sun Devils kept up pinch nan Wildcats by making long-range shots and getting into nan overgarment to finish. Arizona still proved to beryllium nan superior team, winning 89-82 and keeping its undefeated record. With Michigan's nonaccomplishment complete nan weekend, Iowa State's nonaccomplishment connected Tuesday, and Vanderbilt's nonaccomplishment to Texas connected Wednesday, Arizona and Nebraska are nan only classed teams near that person not yet lost.

Forward Tobe Awaka erupted for a team-leading and season-high 25 points and 5 rebounds. Koa Peat was 2nd pinch 24 points and 10 rebounds, nan 4th double-double of his collegiate career.

First half

Six minutes into nan first half and ASU went stride for stride pinch nan beingness Wildcats. Arizona recovered itself down 12-9. 

With 12 minutes remaining, Arizona was capable to drawback nan lead owed to immoderate awesome scoring by Ivan Kharchenkov and Tobe Awaka. After Awaka's handbasket that put nan Wildcats up by one, he sank his free propulsion changeable to put nan Wildcats successful nan lead 14-12. 

The elder large man scored nan adjacent handbasket aft a bargain by Dwayne Aristode to make it 18-16. But ASU remained patient and scored successful modulation to necktie it backmost up astatine 18 apiece. 

With 8 minutes near to play, Brayden Burries nailed a agelong 3-point changeable to put Arizona up by 1 constituent pinch a 23-22 score. After a missed changeable by ASU, Awaka deed different 1 to make it a 26-22 people conscionable earlier nan media timeout. 

 After a missed changeable by ASU, Awaka deed different 1 to make it a 26-22 people conscionable earlier nan media timeout. 

With six minutes left, Arizona sewage up to arsenic overmuch arsenic a six-point lead pinch a 30-24 people owed to a layup by Jaden Bradley. Awaka's arena-shaking dunk past put Arizona up 33-31 pinch 3 minutes near successful nan half.

Eventually, ASU battled backmost into nan lead aft a 3-point changeable that was made by Andria Grobovic, giving it a constrictive 34-33 lead. 

Down by 3 points pinch 9 seconds remaining successful nan half, Peat was capable to propulsion nan Wildcats backmost to a one-point shortage pinch a layup to make it 39-38 by nan last buzzer. The past clip Arizona went into nan locker room without a lead was erstwhile it played Alabama connected December 13, trailing nan Crimson Tide 41-39 successful Birmingham. 

Awaka led successful points pinch 15 and Peat was 2nd pinch eight. Arizona led successful rebounds 23-17, but ASU led successful steals 4-1. The Wildcats besides had 5 turnovers compared to nan Sun Devils’ one. 

Second half

The title started precisely wherever it near disconnected astatine nan opening of nan 2nd half, a physical, gritty 1 that saw some teams pushing and shoving for dominance. After being down early 43-40, Arizona bullied its measurement backmost into nan lead. Kharchenkov's 2 free throws gave nan Wildcats a 45-43 lead 3 minutes in. Peats layup disconnected a turnover made it a 47-43 game. 

It was a back-and-forth matter pursuing that. Arizona retook a four-point lead aft Aristode made a 3-pointer, making it 57-53. After a made free propulsion by ASU, Awaka’s charismatic slam made it a 59-54 game. Peat past grew that lead pinch a made layup to make it 61-54 pinch 11 minutes remaining successful nan game. 

Up 70-63 pinch 7 minutes left, Kharchenkov grew that lead pinch a immense 3-pointer to make it 73-63. Peats ' mid-range jumper disconnected a turnover past made it 75-63, forcing ASU to return a timeout. 

As overmuch arsenic nan Wildcats attempted to put nan crippled away, location was nary discontinue successful nan Sun Devils. ASU was capable to conflict its measurement backmost to a single-digit shortage pinch an 83-79 people pinch a infinitesimal near to play. 

Kharchenkov’s 2 made free throws put Arizona backmost to a six-point lead, but ASU’s Mo Odum sewage it backmost to wrong 3 points aft a made 3-point shot, making it 85-82. By nan last buzzer, Arizona escaped pinch an 89-82 victory.

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