12/6/2014

No. 3/3 Arizona Grinds Out 66-63 OT Win Over No. 9/8 Gonzaga

Courtesy: Associated Press
Release: 12/06/2014

Courtesy: Arizona Athletics

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - T.J. McConnell scored six of his 12 points in overtime and No. 3 Arizona held on for a 66-63 victory over No. 9 Gonzaga after Byron Wesley air-balled the first of three missed free throws with 3.3 seconds left on Saturday.

Arizona (8-0) rallied from a poor-shooting first half and a couple of deficits in the second half to force overtime. McConnell, limited in the first half by foul trouble, was assertive in the extra period, leading the Wildcats to their 26th straight home win.

Brandon Ashley had 14 points for Arizona, which has won 35 straight regular-season non-conference games.

Gonzaga (7-1) shot well inside, but went 4 for 17 from 3-point range and had two key turnovers late in overtime.

Wesley had a chance to tie the game after being fouled on a 3-pointer, but was well short on his first attempt and clanged away the other two.

Kyle Wiltjer led the Bulldogs with 15 points. Kevin Pangos had six assists, but was held to eight points on 3-of-10 shooting.

Arizona rolled Gonzaga in the round of 32 in last season's NCAA tournament, and the rematch was a marquee matchup of deep, talented teams butting heads in one of college basketball's best venues.

Arizona's forte has been defense. Even when the Wildcats have struggled on offense, the defense has come to the rescue, leading to impressive wins over Kansas State and San Diego State on the way to the Maui Invitational title last week.

Gonzaga, which won the NIT Season Tip-Off, has gotten to this point behind one of the nation's most efficient offenses, ranking third nationally with 54 percent shooting while winning by an average of 29.4 points per game.

Wiltjer kicked off the game with an air ball on an open jumper, a prelude for what was a physical, don't-give-an-inch first half.

Arizona struggled against Gonzaga's pack-it-in defense, missing 11 of its first 14 shots - mostly from outside - while going 9 of 27 in the first half.

Gonzaga struggled early on against Arizona's all-over pressure. It found a rhythm for a short stint to go up seven, and then struggled again to finish the first half at 9 of 29 from the field.

The Wildcats went on a short run to end the half behind Ashley, who hit a 3-pointer, scored on a spinning drive and found Elliott Pitts on a kick-out 3-pointer to tie it at 27.

The second half was completely different, with the teams trading athletic plays and big shots instead of clanks.

Gonzaga did most of its damage inside, getting into the lane and crashing for offensive rebounds.

The Zags pushed the lead to 60-54 on a putback by Wiltjer, but Arizona fought back, tying it on a jumper by Ashley with 1:25 left.

Wiltjer had a chance to win it at the end of regulation, but his turning 3-pointer from the corner just missed.

TIP-INS

Gonzaga: The Bulldogs were playing their first matchup of top-10 teams since losing 83-74 at Memphis in 2005. ... Gonzaga played without freshman point guard Josh Perkins, who broke his jaw against Georgia in the NIT semifinals.

Arizona: An animated Ashley shoved Wiltjers away after the two tangled going after a rebound in the second half.