NCAA: Arizona secures PAC-12 title

NCAA – The number three ranked Arizona Wildcats have clinched the PAC-12 division title after dispatching Stanford at home in a convincing 79-66 win. They are now 27-2 overall and 14-2 in the division. Despite injuries to key players, which accounted for their notches in the loss column, the former number one ranked team managed to regroup and deliver once the weight of keeping their undefeated streak was lifted off their shoulders.

Arizona scored the first four points of the game taking the initiative, controlling Stanford on the defensive end and cruised from there. The 13-point deficit was a more convincing result compared to their close, three-point margin when they last encountered their opponents.

The regular season PAC-12 title will be especially sweet for Aaron Gordon, who led Arizona with 19 points and 15 rebounds. He’s expected to go pro this summer and will be joining what is expected to be a stacked class of rookies. His performance as a freshman Wildcat should make him a legitimate candidate to be picked up by an NBA team. He led four other teammates who managed to score in double figures. T.J. McConnell added 14 points and four assists. Gabe York was the team’s top performer off the bench, as he finished with 12 points and making three treys from deep.

The Cardinals were led by the game and career-high 22 points of Josh Huestis, who also managed to grab 12 boards. Anthony Brown did a solid job with 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. A key item of note was that Stanford’s bench was unable to contribute to the game. They only had two reserves who managed to chip in two points apiece.

Arizona is a contender, there’s no doubt about it.