Arizona beats Cal to win Pac-12 title outright

It wasn’t a pretty win, that’s for sure

Likely playing his final game in McKale Center, Deandre Ayton made it a memorable one.

The big man broke UA’s all-time freshman scoring record, tallying 26 points and 20 rebounds as the Arizona Wildcats held off a pesky Cal team, 66-54, to win the Pac-12 title outright.

It was the 21st double-double of the season for Ayton, who upped his career scoring total to 616, surpassing Jerryd Bayless (592) atop the all-time freshman leaderboard.

It was a historic day for Ayton, who will likely be a top-three pick in June’s NBA draft, and Arizona certainly needed it.

The Wildcats shot just 39 percent from the field, including a dismal 27 percent in the second half, as they struggled to put away the last-place Bears, who led at one point in the second half.

Arizona did not get much from usual contributors like Dusan Ristic and Allonzo Trier. Ristic, a senior playing his final home game, had 6 points on 1-of-9 shooting.

Trier tallied a career-low two points, and was held scoreless until late in the second half.

Tied at 53 with 5:28 left, Ayton was fouled while soaring for an offensive rebound and made both ensuing free throws to give UA the lead. He was then fouled on a lob from Trier and made two more free throws to make it 57-53 with 3:37 to play

Trier then stripped Justice Sueing on the perimeter and went the other way for a breakaway layup, his first points of the game.

Then a hook shot by Ayton put Arizona up eight with 2:31 left. The Wildcats commanded the game from there, and were able to give their seniors a proper send off.

Ristic’s was the highlight. As he checked out for the last time in McKale Center, the big man ripped off his jersey and fired it into the crowd, uncovering a shirt that said “Thank you Arizona” on one side and “Dusan loves Tucson” on the other, before doing his infamous “top” celebration.

In his final moments in McKale Center, Dusan Ristic rips off his jersey revealing a “Dusan loves Tucson” shirt. What a moment. pic.twitter.com/JpQrx7VJyL

— Ryan Kelapire (@RKelapire) March 4, 2018

After the game the 7-footer led the Wildcats through crowd, receiving high five after high five. Fellow senior Talbott Denny scored his first career points with a late free throw.

Arizona also honored Ayton, Trier, and Rawle Alkins after the game in addition to its seniors.

The Wildcats finish the regular season 24-7 overall and 14-4 in conference play, clinching the No. 1 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament. It will play the winner of the Colorado-ASU game in the quarterfinals on Thursday at 1 p.m. MST in Las Vegas.

Arizona looked like it was going to run away with Saturday’s game early, jumping out to a 14-8 lead, but Cal strung together a 9-2 run capped by a Darius McNeill 3 to take a 17-16 lead.

After a timeout, Arizona answered with a 14-4 run and Ayton, who had 14 points and 11 rebounds in the first half, hit a desperation 3 to make it 30-21. Then dunks by the big man helped UA extend that to 38-28 with 1:10 left.

But the Bears scored seven points in the final minute, including a Don Coleman buzzer-beating 3, to trail just 38-35 at the break.

Cal shot 50 percent in the first half as Arizona struggled to keep it away from the basket. 26 of the Bears’ 35 first-half points were scored in the paint.

The Wildcats shot 48 percent in the first half, but made 8-of-10 free throws while the Bears missed their only attempt. Arizona was 4-of-11 from 3; Cal was 3-of-9.

Cal scored the first four points of the second half to grab a 39-38 lead, but Ayton made two free throws, then Alkins scored inside, allowing Arizona to re-take a 43-39 lead. The Wildcats had missed their first six shots of the second half.

Dylan Smith hit a 3 to extend Arizona’s lead to 47-42 with 10:59 left, but then fouled Coleman on a 3. He made two of the three free throws, then later made a pair to cut Cal’s deficit to 49-48 with 9:18 left.

Juhwan Harris-Dyson split two free throws to tie it with 7:47 left and Cal later tied it again with just under six minutes left before the Wildcats finally took control.

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Follow Ryan Kelapire on Twitter at @RKelapire

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