1/15/2015

No. 10/9 Arizona Posts a 68-54 Victory Over Colorado

Courtesy: Associated Press
Release: 01/15/2015

Courtesy: Arizona Athletics

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Stanley Johnson scored 22 points, Kaleb Tarczewski added 14 and No. 10 Arizona pulled away for a 68-54 victory over short-handed Colorado on Thursday night.

Arizona (15-2, 3-1 Pac-12) struggled offensively at times without injured guard Gabe York and had a hard time containing Askia Booker after losing to Oregon State in its last game.

The Wildcats pulled out their 31st straight home win by dominating inside, outscoring Colorado by 16 in the paint while grabbing 15 more rebounds.

Booker had a career-high 30 points on 11-of-17 shooting, including 6 of 9 from 3-point range. That helped the Buffaloes (9-7, 2-2) keep it close early despite playing without Josh Scott (back) and Xavier Johnson (ankle), their second and third-leading scorers.

No one else scored more than eight points, though, leaving Colorado winless on the road (0-5).

Arizona coach Sean Miller was concerned about his team's defense after a road loss to UNLV.

The Wildcats were solid in wins over Arizona State and Oregon to open the Pac-12 season, but their defensive woes cropped up again in a road loss to unranked Oregon State last week.

Taking advantage of individual defensive mismatches, the Beavers shot 51 percent overall in the 58-56 victory, prompting Miller, a staunch man-to-man coach, to suggest the Wildcats might try playing zone.

Arizona didn't go to the zone against Colorado, but didn't need to. Well, against everyone except Booker.

Colorado's leading scorer hit 7 of 9 of shots - all four of his 3-pointers - and had 18 points by halftime. The rest of the Buffaloes combined for seven points on 3-of-13 shooting.

Arizona got off to a slow offensive start without York, missing 11 of its first 15 shots. The Wildcats began to find a rhythm, with some help from their non-Booker defense, using an 11-0 run to build a 35-25 halftime lead.

Booker kept hitting shots and his teammates joined him, making 7 of their first 12 in the second half to pull within 47-42.

Arizona wouldn't let the Buffaloes get any closer.

T.J. McConnell hit a 3-pointer and Johnson scored inside, pushing Arizona's lead to 55-44. Colorado never got closer.

TIP-INS

Colorado: The Buffaloes have played consecutive top-10 teams on the road for a first time since facing No. 2 Kansas and No. 1 Missouri in 1990. ... Booker had to leave after rolling his left ankle late in the second half but returned.

Arizona: Johnson had 12 points by halftime.