Runnin' Utes no match for red-hot Wildcats in Tucson, fall 88-62

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah trailed by 12 points at halftime to No. 8 Arizona at the McKale Center in Tucson on Thursday night. And that might have been generous given the first 20 minutes of play.

Utah shot 33% from the field in the first half and was outscored 16-4 in the post against a red-hot Arizona team that at one point went 10-of-12 from the field en route to a double-digit lead. The only thing that kept Arizona from blowing the doors open was Utah's five made 3-pointers in the half, but even that didn't give much confidence to a comeback.

The Runnin' Utes hoped to turn the tide in the second half, but outside from a made 3-pointer from Branden Carlson, the situation in Tucson got worse for the visiting team. Arizona controlled the tempo and pulled away from Utah for an easy 88-62 win to split the series for the season.

Utah (17-10, 10-6 Pac-12) got the early-season win, but Arizona got the last laugh as the two teams position themselves for potential postseason opportunities — though Arizona's NCAA Tournament bid appears set while Utah hopes to get an NIT bid.

To make matters worse, Arizona (23-4, 12-4 Pac-12) went on a 15-3 run over a seven-minute stretch late in the game, which also matched a cold spell from Utah that included making only one of their last 12 field goal attempts. By then, Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd subbed out his starting unit with two minutes left in the game and a 25-point lead.

While Arizona played well offensively from the opening tipoff, the Utes matched the Wildcats during the opening four minutes of the game and even controlled a 4-point. The two teams traded baskets and leads over the opening minutes, but Utah couldn't sustain the momentum and quickly saw Arizona pull away.

Arizona finished the night shooting 57% from the field and shot 50% from 3-point range on 18 attempts, and was led by Kerr Kriisa's 17 points and six assists. In total, the Wildcats finished with four players in double figures to beat the Utes.

Carlson led Utah with 19 points, which included three made 3-pointers, as Utah shot only 32% from the field in the loss. Marco Anthony added 12 points and seven rebounds, and freshman Wilguens Exacte Jr. finished with 10 points, including two 3-pointers.

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