Arizona empties bench in win over Utah Valley
TUCSON, Ariz. >> Arizona’s slow starts in games this season don’t bother guard Elliott Pitts.
"We never take a game lightly," Pitts said. "It’s all about how we finish, and we’re undefeated right now."
The No. 3 Wildcats made Pitts’ point by getting off to a slow start and then routing Utah Valley 87-56.
Arizona trailed by three points in the first four minutes, but it didn’t take long for them to find another gear. Freshman Stanley Johnson led a balanced attack with 14 points and the Wildcats cruised to victory.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson scored 12 points and pulled down 10 rebounds, Dusan Ristic scored 13 points and Gabe York added 11 for the Wildcats (9-0).
Arizona was able to give 10 players at least 12 minutes of playing time — just in time for a game against Michigan in Tucson on Saturday.
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"We didn’t have to play our starters heavy minutes. We got a lot of our guys who don’t start more minutes. With game experience comes confidence," Arizona coach Sean Miller said.
Utah Valley went seven minutes of the second half without a point, trailing 62-30 at the 12-minute mark. Arizona continued to pull away, leading by as many as 34 points.
The win gave Arizona 36 straight regular-season non-conference victories, the longest streak in the nation.
The Wildcats used a 12-0 run over 31/2 minutes of the first half to take a commanding lead, going from a 16-14 deficit to a 26-16 lead.
NO. 4 LOUISVILLE 94, INDIANA 74
NEW YORK >> Terry Rozier scored a career-high 26 points and grabbed six rebounds as the Cardinals (8-0) beat the Hoosiers (7-2) in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden.
NO. 7 VILLANOVA 73, ILLINOIS 59
NEW YORK >> Dylan Ennis scored 18 points to lead the Wildcats (9-0) past the Illini (7-2).
No. 11 WICHITA STATE 77, SETON HALL 68
WICHITA, Kan. >> Ron Baker scored 22 points, Fred VanVleet added 18 points and eight assists and the Shockers (6-1) handed the Pirates (7-1) their first loss of the season.
NO. 14 IOWA STATE 73, MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY 56
AMES, Iowa >> Bryce Dejean-Jones scored 22 points and the Cyclones (6-1) beat the Kangaroos (3-7) for their third straight win.
NO. 25 NOTRE DAME 93, MOUNT ST. MARY’S 67
SOUTH BEND >> Steve Vasturia scored a career-high 19 points and Zach Auguste had 19 points and eight rebounds to lead the Irish (9-1) to a win over the Mountaineers (2-5).
BIG WEST
UC DAVIS 80, EASTERN ILLINOIS 70
DAVIS, Calif. >> Corey Hawkins and J.T. Adenrele combined to score 36 points as the Aggies (7-1) got by the Panthers (3-6).
Hawkins had 19 points and six assists and Adenrele made seven of nine from the floor for 17 points.