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Lyons and Arizona get by Clemson

Dec 9, 2012 - 6:22 AM Clemson, SC (Sports Network) - Mark Lyons scored a game-high 20 points to help No. 8 Arizona hold off a second-half push by Clemson and post a 66-54 victory at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Nick Johnson followed with 13 points, five rebounds and five steals, while Solomon Hill finished with seven points and 10 rebounds for the Wildcats (7-0), who are off to their best start to a season under coach Sean Miller.

"It was a very good win for our team," said Miller. "They'll be as physical and tough to score on, I believe, as any team we'll play all season long."

Milton Jennings paced the Tigers (5-3) with 15 points, K.J. McDaniels added 13 and Adonis Filer finished with 10 in Clemson's second loss in three games.

Arizona entered the second half holding a 28-24 lead, but after a Hill jumper put the Wildcats on top, 33-36, Clemson reeled off a 7-0 run to take its first lead of the game at 42-36.

The Wildcats answered by knotting the game at 44 before Jennings drilled a 3- pointer to give Clemson back the lead.

But the Tigers would not make another shot from the floor over the next seven- plus minutes and Arizona took advantage of the drought with a 20-2 run to take a decisive 64-49 lead.

Jennings was able to halt the skid with a trey with about a minute left, but it was too late as the game was all but decided.

"We're certainly disappointed with the outcome after we fought so hard to get a lead in the middle of the second half," Clemson coach Brad Brownell said. "I thought our guys played pretty hard."

The teams traded baskets over the first five-plus minutes until Lyons' triple sparked a 17-4 run to give the Wildcats a 22-8 lead with just under nine minutes left in the first half.

The Tigers, however, would no go quietly, battling back to get back within 26-24 before Brandon Ashley connected on a pair of free throws to give Arizona a four-point edge at the break.

Game Notes

Lyons' 20 points was a season high ... Arizona shot just 35.5 percent from the floor, while Clemson shot 38.5 percent in the game ... The Wildcats held a 44-33 advantage on the glass and a 32-28 edge in points in the paint.