Arizona earns dominant 75-54 win over No. 20 Colorado

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Dylan Smith and Josh Green both scored 13 points, Nico Mannion and Zeke Nnaji each added 12, and Arizona cruised to a 75-54 win over No. 20 Colorado on Saturday.

Arizona (13-5, 3-2 Pac-12) has won all three of its home conference games. The Wildcats had a double-digit lead for the last 18 minutes of the game, stopping the brief Colorado rallies with quick baskets.

Arizona got contributions from all over the roster. Max Hazzard scored nine points on three 3-pointers, Jemarl Baker Jr had seven points and Ira Lee had six points and seven rebounds. Nnaji added 12 rebounds.

Colorado (14-4, 3-2) took a 10-5 lead in the opening minutes, but Arizona rallied with the next seven points and the Buffaloes never led again. McKinley Wright led Colorado with 15 points and D’Shawn Schwartz added 12.

Arizona shot 52% from the field in the second half to slowly pull away. The Wildcats also had a 39-25 rebounding advantage.

Arizona jumped out to a 34-20 lead late in the first half when Smith snatched the ball out of Shane Gatling’s hands and ran the length of the floor before finishing with a slam.

Wright countered for Colorado with a 3-pointer at the buzzer that banked in off the glass, pulling the Buffaloes within 34-23 at the break.

Colorado shot just 8 of 25 (32%) in the first half.

BIG PICTURE

Colorado: The Buffaloes are a quality defensive team, but the offense must be more efficient if they’re going to be a contender for the top of the Pac-12.

Arizona: Two straight home wins might have put the Wildcats back on track after a rough couple of weeks. Arizona’s freshmen are growing up quickly and they’re getting lots of contributions from others like Hazzard, Baker and Lee.

UP NEXT

Colorado: The Buffaloes return home to face Washington State on Thursday.

Arizona: The Wildcats get a week off before a road game against Arizona State on Saturday.