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Williams gets big block in Arizona's win over Washington

Feb 20, 2011 - 6:12 AM Tucson, AZ (Sports Network) - Derrick Williams finished with a game-high 26 points to go along with 11 rebounds and two blocks, none bigger then his game- saving block with .2 seconds remaining, lifting No. 12 Arizona over Washington, 87-86, at the McKale Center.

Lamont Jones added 15 points, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, and Jesse Perry added 11 points and six boards for the Wildcats (23-4, 12-2 Pac-10), who have won eight straight since falling to Washington on January 20.

Matthew Bryan-Amaning led the Huskies (18-8, 10-5) with 24 points, nine rebounds and six blocks. Isaiah Thomas added 12 points and nine assists while C.J. Wilcox supplied 19 points in a reserve role for Washington, which had a three-game winning streak snapped.

Despite Washington trailing 49-40 at the half, Bryan-Amaning kept the game close tying the contest on consecutive possession inside five minutes, and after he connected with Justin Holiday for a layup at 2:47 Washington had an 84-82 lead.

Darnell Gant blocked William's layup attempt on Arizona's next possession but the Wildcats got the offensive rebound and went back on top with a Williams three-pointer.

Gant's layup gave the Huskies an 86-85 lead with 1:46 remaining, but both teams went flat for the following minute until Solomon Hill's short layup gave the Wildcats an 87-86 lead with 22 seconds remaining.

Washington immediately called a timeout, however, Bryan-Amaning then brought the ball to the top of the key and was called for a walk, giving the ball back to Arizona with about three seconds remaining.

The Wildcats attempted to inbound the ball at the baseline, but Hill botched the inbound when he couldn't control the ball as he was streaking toward the basket, giving the Huskies one more chance at the win.

After a referee review, the clock was adjusted to 1.8 seconds left, and when Gant went for a last second basket on a short inbound Williams was there to collect his second block of the game to seal the win.

"When I was going up that's when he first released the ball," Williams said of the block. "I just tapped it perfectly and luckily they didn't call goaltending. I believe if we were at Washington they might have called it goaltending but good thing we were at home."

Williams and Wilcox both finished with 11 points in the first half, however, the Wildcats shot 8-of-10 from three-point range and outrebounded Washington 20-11 to take the early 49-40 lead at the half.

Perry's three-pointer game Arizona a 52-40 lead in the opening minute of the second half, however, Thomas' layup on the Huskies next possession started a 10-2 run that made the game close. Bryan-Amaning capped the run with a layup at 14:39 putting the game at 54-50, and the teams traded baskets for the next several minutes.

Another Bryan-Amaning basket at 10:24 made it a one-possession game, and out of a Washington timeout Wilcox's three-pointer at 9:14 tied the game at 68-68. A Terrence Ross layup and Bryan-Amaning dunk gave the Huskies the 72-68 lead inside eight minute remaining but just as they did the entire game the Wildcats responded and kept it a one-possession game into the final moments.

Game Notes

Holiday finished with 11 points on 4-of-8 from the field for Washington...Kevin Parrom added 11 points in a reserve role for Arizona...The Wildcats held a 35-22 rebounding advantage...Arizona made 16-of-18 from the line, 13-of-18 for Washington...Arizona leads the all-time series 44-25...Arizona improved to 15-0 at home this season.