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Quick Hits: Pac-12 Weekend Basketball

By Andrew Kahn

Arizona 69, Utah 51

In the premiere match-up of the Pac-12 season—and one that will possibly remain so until they meet again on Feb. 28—Arizona dominated the second half to hand Utah its first league loss on Saturday. Both have played excellent defense this season, but playing in front of their home crowd energized the more athletic Wildcats. They held the Utes to just 7 of 22 on two-point field goals. This outlet’s game preview noted the importance of offensive rebounding for both teams. Sure enough, Arizona grabbed a whopping 53 percent of its own misses why Utah recorded just four offensive boards.

Arizona hit just 1 of 7 three-pointers but it didn’t matter—freshman Stanley Johnson scored all 18 of his points in the second half to keep his team in front, slashing and hitting the offensive glass at will. Utah’s star point guard Delon Wright finished with just 10 points, and seven of those were his team’s first points of the game. T.J. McConnell, who one opposing Pac-12 coach admiringly calls a defensive “pest,” helped contain Wright. The lopsided loss shouldn’t invalidate Utah’s start to the season, but it does remind us that the road to the Pac-12 championship goes through Tucson.

Washington 85, Oregon 77

Last night in Eugene, Oregon went on a 23-2 run in the first half and led by 10 at the break, but Washington outscored the Ducks 53-35 in the second half to pull away. Washington freshman Donaven Dorsey hit double figures for the second time in his career, connecting on all three of his long-range attempts, while Andrew Andrews and Nigel Williams-Goss combined for 41. Meanwhile, Robert Upshaw just keeps blocking shots. He had five yesterday, giving him 77 on the season. He already has Washington’s single-season record and is on pace to set the Pac-12 record. Says an opposing coach: “You have to adjust your game plan against [Washington] because it’s so hard to score at the rim. [Upshaw] doesn’t even have to jump to block a shot.” Both Washington and Oregon are 2-3 in the league.

Arizona State 78, Colorado 72

Perhaps the Curtain of Distraction finally worked. With Arizona State’s students setting up a curtain behind the opposing basket and revealing an assembly of bizarre characters during foul shots, Colorado shot just 58 percent from the line. Then again, the Sun Devils’ first conference win was probably due more to their balanced scoring—five players scored in double digits. It was one of their better offensive performances in weeks. They made 10 of 20 from three. For the second game in a row, Colorado (2-3 in conference) was without two of its three leading scorers and rebounders, Josh Scott and Xavier Johnson.

Oregon State 62, Washington State 47

In a battle of new coaches, Wayne Tinkle and the Beavers prevailed to move to 3-2 in the league. They were fueled by another strong defensive showing—Washington State shot just 29 percent—and Langston Morris-Walker’s 22 points.

Stanford 72, UConn 59

Chasson Randle continued his hot shooting on Saturday night, leading Stanford to a nonconference win over the defending national champs. The Cardinal (4-1) have quietly impressed this season and get a real test when they Arizona on Thursday.

Andrew Kahn is a regular contributor to CBS Local who also writes for Newsday and The Wall Street Journal. He writes about college basketball and other sports at AndrewJKahn.com. Email him at andrewjkahn@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter at @AndrewKahn.

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