ARIZONA BASKETBALL

Arizona records eight blocks during the first half against Stanford

Jan 20, 2018, 3:34 PM | Updated: 4:30 pm

Arizona forward Deandre Ayton (13) dunks against Stanford center Josh Sharma (20) during the first ...

Arizona forward Deandre Ayton (13) dunks against Stanford center Josh Sharma (20) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, in Stanford, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

The first half of the Arizona game against Stanford turned into a block party for the Wildcats.

Behind Arizona big man Deandre Ayton’s game-leading five blocks, the Wildcats protected the paint early and often, rejecting eight shots in the first half alone.

Ayton was doing it all from the start. In the first 11 minutes, Ayton recorded three blocks, but was also getting it done on the other side of the court too.

Ayton finished the first half with seven points, four rebounds and two assists to go along with his blocks. But he slowed down in the second half, finishing the game with six blocks, eight rebounds and nine total points.

Aside from the rejections, it was a below average outing for the Wildcats’ big man, who came into Saturday’s contest averaging 1.5 blocks, 11.3 rebounds and 20.2 points per game.

Rawle Alkins and Ira Lee also added to the block party, adding three combined in the first half.

The Wildcats were led by guard Allonzo Trier’s 21 points and center Dusan Ristic’s 18 points to hold off the Cardinal in a 73-71 nail-biter.

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