With win over Stanford, Arizona clinches Pac-12 title outright

Mar 3, 2014, 3:47 AM | Updated: 5:20 am

After a brief two-year drought, the Arizona Wildcats (27-2, 13-2) are back atop the Pac-12 conference.

With a 79-66 win over the Stanford Cardinal Sunday night at the McKale Center, Arizona locked up its 13th conference title in school history.

In the win, the Wildcats received a terrific contribution from freshman Aaron Gordon (19 points and a career-high 15 rebounds) and junior T.J. McConnell (14 points and four assists) and never trailed.

Arizona had already earned the top seed in the Pac-12 Tournament with its victory over California Thursday and will play its first game of the Pac-12 tournament March 13 at noon against either the No. 8 or No. 9 seed after a first-round bye.

As the standings currently sit, Utah and Oregon State would occupy the eighth and ninth seeds in Las Vegas.

The Pac-12 Tournament Championship Game will be held on March 15 at 3 p.m. MST.

Head coach Sean Miller has grown accustomed to winning conference championships. Arizona’s 2014 Pac-12 title marks his second since coming to Old Pueblo. He also accrued three in a row in the Atlantic 10 during his time at Xavier from 2007-09.

The last time Arizona took home the conference title, the ‘Cats, led by sophomore Derrick Williams upset top-seeded Duke en route to an appearance in the Elite Eight.

According to ESPN.com bracketologist Joe Lunardi, Arizona is currently the No. 1 seed in the West Region.

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Stanford's Dwight Powell (33) attempts to block the shot of Arizona's Nick Johnson, right, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Sunday, March 2, 2014 in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/John MIller)

Stanford's Chasson Randle (5) works around Arizona's T.J. McConnell (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/John MIller)

Stanford's Dwight Powell (33) tries to dribble around the defense of Arizona's Rondae Hollis-Jefferson during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/John MIller)

Arizona's Aaron Gordon, center, passes the ball in front of Stanford's Dwight Powell (33) in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, March 2, 2014 in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/John MIller)

Arizona's Aaron Gordon, left, looks to pass the ball against the defense of Stanford's Dwight Powell (33 ) and Stefan Nastic, far right, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, March 2, 2014 in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/John MIller)

Arizona's Brandon Ashley, center, listens to the national anthem with his teammates before an NCAA college basketball game against Stanford on Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Tucson, Ariz. Ashley suffered a season-ending foot injury. (AP Photo/John MIller)

Stanford's Josh Huestis, in front, maneuvers against Arizona's Nick Johnson, back, for a shot in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Sunday, March 2, 2014, in Tucson, Ariz. Arizona won 79-66. (AP Photo/John MIller)

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