No. 1 Arizona overcame an eight-point first-half deficit by limiting San Diego State to 26.3% shooting from the field and by going on a 21-5 run in the second half in Saturday night’s 68-45 victory in Phoenix.
The Wildcats (11-0) were fueled by Anthony Dell’Orso’s two 3-pointers in that deciding stretch of the second half that included Arizona’s lead going from 32-31 with 16:11 remaining to 53-36 with 8:31 left.
Dell’Orso, who finished with 10 points, also made a 3-pointer to conclude an 8-0 run to end the first half that gave Arizona a 28-27 lead.
San Diego State (6-4) made 15 of 57 shots from the field, 1 of 14 from 3-point range.
Arizona also outrebounded the Aztecs 52-28 behind Tobe Awaka’s 15-rebound performance, including 10 in the second half when the Wildcats pulled away. Awaka finished with nine points.
Motiejus Krivas contributed 13 rebounds.
Jaden Bradley had 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists, and Koa Peat had 11 points and five rebounds for Arizona. Ivan Kharchenkov and Brayden Burries each finished with 10 points.
San Diego State did not have a scorer in double figures. Reese Dixon-Waters led the Aztecs with eight points.
The closing 8-0 run of the first half by Arizona was aided by a technical foul called on San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher.
Five of Arizona’s last eight points in the half came at the free-throw line, including one by Dell’Orso with 1:18 left following Dutcher’s technical foul after he argued a foul call.
Dell’Orso ended the half with Arizona’s first 3-pointer made after 10 misses.
The Wildcats, who matched a season low with their 28 points in the first half, had made 9 of 25 (36%) from the field at halftime.
San Diego State’s defense also forced Arizona into 10 turnovers, which resulted in nine points for the Aztecs.
The Wildcats, who had only three assists at that point, did not score after any of San Diego State’s six turnovers.
The 21-5 run early in the second half enabled Arizona to pull away.
Awaka scored seven consecutive points in a 12-2 run that increased the lead to 65-40 with 1:57 remaining.
San Diego State’s 18 points in the second half were a season low allowed for Arizona.
–Field Level Media
