Cat Tracks: Wildcats advance to Sweet Sixteen with win over Harvard

Mar 24, 2013, 12:58 AM | Updated: 12:58 am

Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but we all know that won’t tell you everything that happened in a basketball game. So, we give you ‘Cat Tracks’, providing you with the analysis, quotes and notes from Arizona’s 74-51 win over Harvard on March 23.

The Good:

The sixth-seeded Wildcats continue to impress in the tournament, handling 14th-seeded Harvard easily to advance to their 15th Sweet Sixteen.

Point guard Mark Lyons played a remarkable game for the ‘Cats, tying a career-high 27 points on 12-of-17 shooting. He previously scored 27 points while with Xavier against Saint Louis in January 2012.

Arizona was dominant from the start, and built a 30-9 lead at one point in the first half and entered halftime with a comfortable 40-22 lead.

The ‘Cats defense stifled Harvard, holding them to a lowly 27.6 shooting percentage overall.

The Bad:

The Wildcats’ freshman Grant Jerrett bruised his elbow in the first half and did not return to the game.

Arizona saw both Kevin Parrom and Brandon Ashley foul out of the game in the second half.

Noted:

• Harvard missed 20 of its first 22 shots of the game, including 13 straight to open the contest.

• Lyons will become the first player in NCAA tourney history to play in back-to-back Sweet Sixteens with two different teams. He played last year with Xavier.

• Arizona shot an impressive 58.3 percent from the field in the first half and finished with a 55 percent shooting percent overall, including going 9 of 15 from downtown.

Coming Up Next:

The Wildcats will play the winner of Ohio St. vs. Iowa St on Thursday in LA in the Sweet Sixteen.

Harvard's Christian Webster, left puts a shot past Arizona's Michael Hall in the first half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Harvard's Wesley Saunders, left, has his shot blocked by Arizona's Kaleb Tarczewski during the first half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/George Frey)
An Arizona trainer and coach Sean Miller, right, look over injured player Grant Jarrett during the first half against Harvard in a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Harvard's Siyani Chambers, left, passes the ball around Arizona's Jordin Mayes, center, and Brandon Ashley in the first half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Harvard's Christian Webster, left puts a shot up past Arizona defenders, including Kaleb Tarczewski, right, in the first half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Harvard's Siyani Chambers, left, passes to his teammate Jonah Travis, right, as Arizona's Jordin Mayes, second from left, Brandon Ashley (21) and Kaleb Tarczewski (35) defend during the first half in a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Harvard's Siyani Chambers, left, reaches for a loose ball in front of Arizona's Mark Lyons (2) during the first half in a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City, Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Arizona's Mark Lyons, lower left, reaches for a loose ball with Harvard's Laurent Rivard (0) and Siyani Chambers (1) in the first half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Arizona's Kaleb Tarczewski shoots over Harvard's Kenyatta Smith (25) in the first half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Harvard's Kenyatta Smith, left, has his shot blacked by Arizona's Kaleb Tarczewski in the first half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Harvard's Christian Webster, right, drives into Arizona's Kevin Parrom in the first half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Harvard's Christian Webster shoots in front of an Arizona defender during the first half of a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Arizona coach Sean Miller shouts to his team in the first half during a third-round game against Harvard in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Arizona coach Sean Miller talks to his players during a timeout in the first half against Harvard during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City, Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Arizona's Solomon Hill (44) dunks in front of Harvard's Laurent Rivard (0) in the first half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Arizona's Nick Johnson (13) lays the ball up next to Harvard's Christian Webster in the first half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City, Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Harvard coach Tommy Amaker shouts to his team in the first half during a third-round game against Arizona in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Arizona's Mark Lyons goes to the basket in the first half during a third-round game against Harvard in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City, Saturday, March 23, 2013. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Harvard's Siyani Chambers walks off the court at the end of a third-round game against Arizona in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City Saturday, March 23, 2013. Arizona defeated Harvard 74-51. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Harvard's Christian Webster buries his face in a towel at the end of Harvard's third-round game against Arizona in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Arizona won 74-51. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Arizona's Mark Lyons shoots between Harvard's Kenyatta Smith, right, and Laurent Rivard, left, in the second half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Arizona defeated Harvard 74-51. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Arizona's Mark Lyons shoots over Harvard's Jonah Travis in the second half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City Saturday, March 23, 2013. Arizona defeated Harvard 74-51. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Arizona's Mark Lyons shoots in front of Harvard's Wesley Saunders during the second half of a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Arizona Beat Harvard 74-51. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Arizona's Mark Lyons, center puts a shot over Harvard's Wesley Saunders, back, as Laurent Rivard, left, and Christian Webster look on in the second half during a third-round game in the men's NCAA college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Arizona beat Harvard 74-51. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Arizona coach Sean Miller urges his players on in the second half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Arizona beat Harvard 74-51. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Arizona's Brandon Ashley, center, goes over the back of Harvard's Laurent Rivard during the second half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Arizona defeated Harvard 74-51. (AP Photo/George Frey)
Arizona's Mark Lyons shoots between Harvard's Kenyatta Smith, right, and Laurent Rivard, left, in the second half during a third-round game in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Arizona defeated Harvard 74-51. (AP Photo/George Frey)

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