Final
No. 10 Arizona takes care of Colorado
Jan 16, 2015 - 5:33 AM Tucson, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - Stanley Johnson dropped a personal-best 22 points and No. 10 Arizona took care of business at McKale Center, beating Colorado 68-54 on Thursday.Johnson, who was named to the Wooden Award Midseason Top 25 list on Wednesday, also contributed eight rebounds while shooting 8-for-9 from the foul line. Kaleb Tarczewski added 14 points and Elliott Pitts made four of his six 3- point attempts for 12 off the bench.
Brandon Ashley had a game-high 11 rebounds and T.J. McConnell gave eight points, seven rebounds and six assists for Arizona (15-2, 3-1 Pac-12), which has won 31 straight home games.
"We still need to finish on the inside better," said Ashley. "Elliott stepping up and hitting some big shots tonight was a big deal for our team."
Askia Booker was tremendous in defeat, pouring in a career-high 30 points for Colorado (9-7, 2-2), which was without its second and third leading scorers. Center Josh Scott (back spasms) and forward Xavier Johnson (sprained ankle) were both inactive.
"We didn't have an answer for him," added Arizona coach Sean Miller.
No other Buffaloes scored in double figures.
After a sluggish start, Arizona's offense came alive. Tarczewski was the only Wildcat to score over the first 6 1/2 minutes before a Pitts' 3-pointer sparked an 11-0 run.
The hosts might have blown the game open had it not been for Booker. The senior scored 18 points over the first 20 minutes. His triple just before halftime pulled Colorado back within 10 points, 35-25, and ended a string of 12 straight points by the Wildcats.
Booker hit again from deep early in the second, and Dustin Thomas went behind the back to Jaron Hopkins in transition for a dunk to make it a five-point game. Arizona scored seven in a row from there to regain control.
The Wildcats led by as many as 17 points down the stretch.
Game Notes
Arizona guard Gabe York missed the game with a sprained ankle ... Booker shot 11-for-17 from the field and 6-of-9 from behind the arc ... Colorado is 0-5 on the road this season.
- COLORADO: 54
ARIZONA: 68
Final
Jan 15 10:56 PM - COLORADO: 25
ARIZONA: 35
Halftime
Jan 15 9:50 PM - COLORADO: 0
ARIZONA: 0
1st Half - 20:00
Jan 15 9:06 PM
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