Arizona vs. Fresno State final score: Wildcats lose Kadeem Allen but beat Bulldogs 85-72

Arizona got their 43rd straight home win in a thriller.

Coming off the biggest victory of the season, perhaps by anyone in the country, Arizona appeared to suffer from a bit of a hangover defensively. But a hangover was not enough as the Arizona Wildcats picked up their 43rd consecutive home victory, beating the Fresno State Bulldogs, 85-72.

The first half was a back and forth offensive affair, with 89 total points scored. Fresno State allowed Arizona to have a virtual layup line at times, including four first half Ryan Anderson dunks. On the other end, however, Fresno State couldn't seem to miss, shooting 58% overall and 100% (5-5) from deep. Bulldogs senior leader Marvelle Harris' 17 points helped Fresno State to a 46-43 lead at the half.

For the second consecutive game, Arizona made adjustments at the break, especially defensively. Fresno State shot just 36% in the second half, but they did capitalize on nine second half offensive rebounds to keep them within striking distance until late. However, the Wildcats would clamp down and only allow two Fresno State points (both free throws) in the final 2:58. Gabe York, who had a very quiet night up to that point, scored 8 straight points to pull away and Arizona would finish the game on a 14-2 run to win yet another game at McKale.

The victory may have come at a price though. With Kaleb Tarczewski already on the shelf, Elliott Pitts sat tonight's game out due to what Sean Miller termed a "personal issue". Then, late in the second half, Kadeem Allen appeared to turn his right ankle with all his weight on it. Allen appeared to be in a lot of pain and couldn't put any pressure on the leg, while being helped off the floor. Allen's injury and the status of Pitts will be something to look for in the next few days. The timetable for both was unclear immediately after the game.

A few notes from the game...

Allonzo has arrived... Watching Allonzo Trier get better every game is becoming quite the treat. He led the way with a career high 27 points. He added six rebounds for good measure. His box score is nice to look at, but his tenacity on both ends of the floor and his efficiency offensively are really something to see, and both were off the page tonight. 27 points while taking only 11 shots is something to really applaud. He seems to get to the free throw line at will. He also showed off his athleticism, capping tonight's victory with a thunderous dunk in the closing moments. Tonight's broadcast insisted on comparing him to Wildcat freshmen of old. Nobody can be sure about that. One thing is for sure: Allonzo Trier has arrived.

Second half dominance... While it's never good for rough first halves to become a regularity, the coaching staff deserves a lot of credit for getting this young Arizona team's head in the game in the second half of the last two contests. Down ten at Gonzaga was a mountain to climb and everyone answered the call. Tonight, they trailed Fresno State, despite the fact that Arizona had a VERY easy time scoring in the first half. The defensive adjustments the last two games are a huge sign of the character this team has and the skill the coaching staff has. With injuries mounting, that same character and skill will be something Arizona may need to rely on even heavier.

Ryan Anderson attributed the effectiveness to attacking ball screens with more intensity. Sean Miller said that the coaching staff should have implemented that earlier in the game.

Next up, Arizona looks to continue the longest home win streak in the nation against Missouri on Sunday night.

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