Arizona men’s basketball rallies in second half to beat UCLA to win Pac-12 Tournament title

Writen by sidhanta

LAS VEGAS—A year ago at this time, Arizona was sitting out the postseason while awaiting its punishment from the NCAA for past discretions.

The Wildcats are still waiting for those penalties to be levied, but they’re doing so as double Pac-12 champions.

Top-seeded Arizona rallied from down 12 in the second half to beat No. 2 UCLA 84-76 in the Pac-12 Tournament final on Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena.

It was its first tourney title since 2018 and, along with a regular-season championship and a conference-record 18 league wins, sends the Wildcats (31-3) into the NCAA Tournament as one of—if not the—team to beat.

“When I got together with this group of misfits, I knew we had something special,” UA coach Tommy Lloyd said before hoisting the Pac-12 Tournament title trophy.

Bennedict Mathurin led Arizona with 27 points, 18 coming in the second half when the Wildcats used a 31-11 run to go from down 53-41 to up 72-64, along with seven assists.

Dalen Terry had 15 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, Christian Koloko had 13 points, 10 rebounds and 4 blocks and Oumar Ballo blocked six as the Wildcats swatted 11 UCLA shots.

Traci Braxton dies at age 50 following cancer battle