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Arizona runs away from Gardner-Webb in second half

Dec 3, 2014 - 4:11 AM Tucson, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - Freshman phenom Stanley Johnson led four Wildcats in double figures with 18 points and No. 3 Arizona used a big second half run to take down Gardner-Webb, 91-65, on Tuesday.

Fresh off winning MVP of the Maui Invitational and Pac-12 Player of the Week honors for the first time in his young career, Johnson shot 6-of-9 from the floor and pulled down eight rebounds for the unbeaten Wildcats (7-0).

The future lottery pick has scored at least eight points in every game this season and has reached double-figures in six straight.

Gabe York also scored 18 for Arizona, while Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Kalec Tarczewski posted 11 and 10, respectively.

Tyler Strange's five 3-pointers in six tries gave him 15 points to go along with six assists for Gardner-Webb (3-4), which upset Clemson in the opening round of the Paradise Jam last week before consecutive losses. Tyrell Nelson also scored 15 points and Jerome Hill tallied 13 with six rebounds and six assists.

Elliott Pitts' 3-pointer capped an 11-0 flurry to end the first half, as Arizona played down to its competition in the first half but still led 40-28.

Gardner-Webb answered with a 13-2 swing to open the second half. All five starters scored during the run that had the Bulldogs within one, 42-41, following Hill's jumper.

The spread was three after Nelson's baseline jumper, but Parker Jackson- Cartwright hit a 3 to jump-start a 21-1 run that helped the Wildcats rebuild a comfortable lead.

Six different Wildcats scored during the surge, while Johnson, Dusan Ristic and Brandon Ashley both made two field goals. Johnson's jumper at 8:13 left Arizona with a 72-49 lead.

Arizona's lead reached 29 points late in the second half.

Game Notes

Arizona has won 25 straight home games ... Arizona point guard T.J. McConnell had a game-high eight assists ... The Wildcats shot 10-for-17 from 3-point range ... Gardner-Webb has lost nine in a row against ranked opponents since a win over No. 20 Kentucky in 2007.