ARIZONA BASKETBALL

Trier leads Arizona past UNLV in overtime, 91-88

Dec 2, 2017, 11:18 PM | Updated: 11:19 pm

Arizona's Brandon Randolph (5) and Deandre Ayton (13), flanking UNLV's Jovan Mooring, react to a ca...

Arizona's Brandon Randolph (5) and Deandre Ayton (13), flanking UNLV's Jovan Mooring, react to a call during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, in Las Vegas. Arizona defeated UNLV 91-88 in overtime. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

(AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)

LAS VEGAS — Allonzo Trier scored eight of his team-high 29 points in overtime to lead Arizona past UNLV, 91-88, on Saturday night.

Deandre Ayton had 28 points and 10 rebounds, while Parker Jackson-Cartwright scored 12 points for the Wildcats.

Arizona (5-3) hit 18 of 29 (62.1 percent) in the second half.

Brandon McCoy led UNLV (6-2) with a game-high 33 points and 10 rebounds, while Shakur Juiston added 21 points and nine rebounds.

Ayton came into the weekend one of just seven players in the nation averaging at least 15 points and 10 rebounds per game, while shootting 60 percent or better from the field. Ayton is one of just two freshmen in college basketball with the feat, ironically, along with UNLV’s McCoy.

After a poor showing in the first half, the Wildcats came out of the locker room sizzling, hitting three 3-pointers during a 13-8 run that carved into UNLV’s lead, making it 49-43 less than four minutes into the second half.

Arizona took its first lead of the game at the 9:42 mark, when Dylan Smith converted a 3-point play. The teams traded baskets until Trier hit three straight buckets for the Wildcats, giving them a 67-64 lead with a little more than six minutes left in the game.

The Rebels opened the game with the hot hand, hitting 54.5 percent (6 of 11) from the field over the first eight minutes, while the Wildcats hit a mere 22.2 percent (4 of 18). UNLV led 41-30 at halftime after shooting 17 for 30 (56.7 percent), and outrebounding the Wildcats 24-16. Arizona shot just 35 percent (14 of 40) over the first 20 minutes.

BIG PICTURE

Arizona: After becoming the first team in 31 years to drop from No. 2 all the way out of the Top 25 poll, after a disastrous trip to the Bahamas, the Wildcats received 34 votes last week and look for a possible return to the poll after going 2-0 this week. Arizona had been ranked in every AP Top 25 poll, counting preseason and weekly polls, since the beginning of the 2012-13 season.

UNLV: The Runnin’ Rebels are now 8-2 all-time versus Arizona at home, including 4-2 at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV is 12-9 against Arizona all-time and 61-61 against teams that currently make up the Pac-12 Conference. The Runnin’ Rebels defeated Utah, 85-58, on Nov. 22.

UP NEXT

Arizona plays No. 9 Texas A&M on Tuesday, in the Valley of the Sun Shootout in Phoenix.

UNLV plays Oral Roberts on Tuesday, at the MGM Grand Garden

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Basketball

Keshad Johnson #16 and Pelle Larsson #3 of the Arizona Wildcats speak at a press conference before ...

Damon Allred

Grind of final Pac-12 season prepared Arizona basketball for March

No. 2 Arizona men's basketball will look to make it past the Sweet 16 for the first time in Tommy Lloyd's tenure.

17 hours ago

Caitlin Clark celebrates...

Associated Press

Iowa’s Caitlin Clark is inspiring a younger generation of players

Caitlin Clark's deep range has expanded the scope of possibilities for up-and-coming women's basketball players.

18 hours ago

Chase Hunter #1 and PJ Hall #24 of the Clemson Tigers high five during the first half against the B...

Vincent DeAngelis

Clemson basketball looks to continue ‘underdog’ run against Arizona in Sweet 16

No. 6 seed Clemson takes on Arizona on Thursday after upsetting No. 3 seed Baylor in the 2024 NCAA Tournament round of 32

23 hours ago

(L-R) Caleb Love #2, Keshad Johnson #16, Oumar Ballo #11, and Jaden Bradley #0 of the Arizona Wildc...

Vincent DeAngelis

Re-ranking Arizona basketball among Sweet 16 teams in the NCAA Tournament

Multiple publications rank the Arizona Wildcats around the middle of the pack among the Sweet 16 team still in the NCAA Tournament.

3 days ago

Darian DeVries...

Associated Press

West Virginia basketball hires Darian DeVries to be new coach after 6 years at Drake

West Virginia tapped Drake coach Darian DeVries on Sunday to move the Mountaineers past one of the ugliest years in school history.

4 days ago

Tommy Lloyd...

Arizona Sports

How to watch: Arizona vs. Clemson in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

What time and how to watch the No. 2 seed Arizona Wildcats take on No. 6 Clemson Tigers in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

4 days ago

Trier leads Arizona past UNLV in overtime, 91-88