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Arizona Improves to 15-0 at Home and 12-2 in the Pac-10

Derrick Williams was the man of the hour for the Arizona Wildcats Saturday afternoon. Despite a bandaged right pinky finger, Williams came through with a monster block at the end of regulation to clinch an 87-86 victory over the Washington Huskies, keeping the Wildcats on top of the Pac-10.

After Arizona jumped out to a quick 10-point lead, Washington’s second half 10-2 run behind an Isaiah Thomas-led offensive surge pushed Arizona into a 68-68 tie following a C.J Wilcox 3-pointer. Tied again at 80-80, the teams went on for the next four minutes exchanging baskets and the Arizona victory came down to the final three minutes... actually, the final three seconds, to be even more precise.

Williams hit a three point basket with 2:24 to play to push Arizona up by one at 85-84. The Huskies answered and took the lead one more time off a Darnell Gant layup with 1:46 remaining. At 86-85 in favor of the Huskies, Soloman Hill made a layup giving the Wildcats an 87-86 lead with 17 seconds remaining. Washington had the ball and a chance to win. Feeding the ball down low to Matthew Bryan-Amaning, a costly travel gave the ball back to Arizona with just three seconds to play.

All Arizona needed was to inbound the ball, forcing a quick Washington foul and - if both free throws were subsequently made - bringing about a three-point lead en route to a likely victory for the Wildcats; instead, the inbounds pass to Lamont Jones bounced off his foot and out of bounds resulting in a quick turnover and a final chance for Washington to win the game.

Washington’s Thomas inbounded the ball to Gant who, with victory in his reach, did not see Williams on the opposite side of the key. The 6-8 Arizona forward emerged from what seemed like nowhere and swatted Gant’s shot into the stands. With 0.02 seconds remaining, Washington had the ball and a final shot at victory on a lobbed pass followed by a tip in. Arizona instead came up with another big steal to end the game.

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Williams finished the game with 26 points and 11 rebounds in the Arizona victory. Thomas led Washington back from a 10 point deficit and finished the game with his third double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 assists. Matthew Bryan-Amaning assisted in Washington’s surge and, despite a dreadful first half, finished the afternoon with 24 points, eight rebounds, four assists, four steals and seven blocked shots.

Washington has now lost four of its five road games and falls to 10-5 in conference and three games out of the top spot, and Arizona extended its win streak to eight and improved to 15-0 on its home court.

By Ganelle Swehla
DFN Sports Staff Writer