Associated Press
Associated Press
TUCSON, Ariz. — Nick Johnson scored 22 points and Aaron Gordon provided a huge boost despite a rough shooting night, helping top-ranked Arizona pull away from Utah 65-56 Sunday night for its school-record 20th straight win.
Arizona (20-0, 7-0 Pac-12) struggled early in both halves before Gordon made key plays with his hustle during a deciding second-half run. He finished with 10 points on 3-of-13 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds.
The Wildcats offset a 3-for-14 night from 3-point range with 20 offensive rebounds that led to 19 second-chance points.
Utah (14-6, 3-5) kept it close before wearing down in the closing minutes, unable to keep the athletic Wildcats off the glass or from scoring inside to remain winless on the road.
Delon Wright had 19 points and Jordan Loveridge added 13 for the Utes, who were outrebounded 40-29 and outscored 38-24 in the paint.
No. 13 UMASS 90
FORDHAM 52
AMHERST, Mass. — Chaz Williams had 18 points and eight assists and No. 13 Massachusetts rebounded from a loss earlier this week with a 90-52 victory over Fordham.
Raphiael Putney and Trey Davis both had 13 points and Maxie Esho had 10 points and six rebounds for the Minutemen (17-2, 4-1 Atlantic-10), who lost at Richmond on Wednesday.
Chris Whitehead led the Rams (8-11, 1-5) with 13 points. It was Fordham’s seventh loss in eight games coming off a win against George Mason.
Fordham guard Jon Severe, who leads all Division I freshmen in scoring at 20.9 points per game, was held to seven points.
UMass combined a swarming fullcourt press with tough halfcourt man-to-man defense to take its largest lead of the season, 40-24 at halftime. The Minutemen scored the first 17 points of the second half.
No. 15 CINCINNATI 80
TEMPLE 76
PHILADELPHIA — Sean Kilpatrick scored a season-high 29 points and Cincinnati staved off a Temple comeback to remain undefeated in the American Athletic Conference.
After the Bearcats (19-2, 8-0 AAC) had blown all of a 19-point lead and were tied at 76, Kilpatrick hit the game-winning free throws with 7.2 seconds to play.
Temple attempted to tie the game again, but Josh Brown’s layup was blocked by Jermaine Sanders with a half-second to play. Kevin Johnson added two more free throws for the Bearcats, who had their nation-best streak of holding 27 consecutive opponents under 70 points ended.
Dalton Pepper had a career-high 33 points, including the 3 that tied the game at 76 with 36.9 seconds left, for the Owls (5-13, 0-7), who have lost eight straight.
Temple’s losing streak is its longest since the 1975-76 team lost 11 straight.
No. 23 MEMPHIS 80
SOUTH FLORIDA 58
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Chris Crawford scored 15 points and converted five of Memphis’ season-high 10 3-pointers.
The Tigers, next-to-last in the American Athletic Conference in 3-point shooting (30 percent), finished 10 of 22 from outside the arc. Crawford was 5 of 10.
Joe Jackson added 14 points and seven assists for Memphis (15-4, 5-2 AAC), while Shaq Goodwin finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Nick King had 10 points as Memphis won its third straight and fifth of six.
Martino Brock led South Florida (10-10, 1-6) with 17 points, the only Bull to score in double figures.
Memphis broke the game open in the middle of the first half, building the lead to 12 points at halftime. The Tigers were up 30 with about 9 minutes left.