Derrick Williams drives to the hoop against Washington's Matthew Bryan-Amaning. Photo by Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE
It’s over. A thriller. Washington gets the in-bounds pass with 2.2 seconds left to Darnell Gant, who puts up a shot over Jamelle Horne. But Derrick Williams comes flying in from the back side to swat it out of bounds with 0.2 seconds left. Arizona pulls out the 87-86 victory, moving one step closer to the Pac-10 regular-season title.
McKale erupts. Zona Zoo serenades Williams with chants of “MVP, MVP”… and then “One more year, one more year.”
Arizona is 23-4 overall and 12-2 in the Pac-10.
Will have postgame reaction later …
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Washington travels with 3.0 seconds left, but Arizona can’t handle the ensuing in-bounds pass, kicking it out of bounds.
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After MoMo Jones dribbles forever, he bounces a pass inside to Jesse Perry, who is blocked from behind. The ball ends up in the hands of Solomon Hill, who puts in a layup for a 87-86 lead. Washington ball, 17.5 seconds left.
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Washington dominating inside and coming up with fast-break opportunities. For Arizona, it’s Derrick Williams, who hits a 3-point shot. Wildcats trail 86-85 with 1:36 to go.
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And down the stretch they come …
Game is tied at 80 at the final media timeout with 3:59 left. Derrick Williams and Matthew Bryan-Amaning throwing some major figurative haymakers at each other, but neither can get the knockout. MBA with 24 points, nine boards. D-Will with 21 and 12.
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Derrick Williams has scored five consecutive points to allow Arizona to re-take the lead at 78-76 with 5:13 to go. McKale is as loud as its been all day. Can either team stop the other down the stretch?
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The game belongs to Matthew Bryan-Amaning right now. He has 14 points in the half — 20 for the game — as the Huskies lead 72-68 with 7:38 to go.
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And now Washington leads 70-68 with 8:20 to go. Arizona’s interior defense has gone missing.
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Well, I did call it. Game tied at 68 with 9:11 to play.
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Washington’s Matthew Bryan-Amaning has eight points in the half, which isn’t even eight minutes old. Arizona leads 64-58 with 11:59 to play. Arizona’s Derrick Williams has a double-double right now with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
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Derrick Williams has the ball knocked away down low but he gets it back for the reverse layup and the foul … and then he walks it off like it was no big deal. But the Wildcats are giving too many in-close baskets in the second half.
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Bodies flying all the court as the game (and ball security) has gotten ragged. Arizona leads 54-48 with 14:58 to go. I’ll stick with my first-half prediction that this game gets tied at some point.
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Sloppy start to the second half for the Wildcats. Too many turnovers. Washington pulls within 54-48 with 17:04 to go.
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Huge difference in game so far: Washington with only one offensive rebound in first half. Arizona has 10.
So why isn’t UA — which is also a staggering 8 of 10 from 3-point range — leading by more than nine points?
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Derrick Williams misses a layup at the end of the half and follows up with a basket … but just a split second too late. The officials review the play and say no basket. Regardless, Arizona leads 49-40 after a fast-paced first half in which McKale Center was rockin.’
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And then MoMo Jones hits a three after Parrom’s bomb. New York City connection at work.
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Washington swatting shots inside and turning them into fast breaks late in the half. Arizona is living by the Kevin Parrom philosophy — no easy baskets — but the Huskies are getting free throws after being fouled on layup attempts. Parrom responds with a huge 3-pointer with a minute to play to make it 46-38.
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Which team can get grab the halftime momentum? Arizona took a 37-25 lead but Washington has whittled that to 37-29 at the final media timeout of the half — 3:41 to play. My guess: This game is going to be tied at some point in the second half.
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Tweets ESPN’s Jay Bilas: Arizona’s Derrick Williams has had some ridiculously athletic dunks this year. The most efficient star performer in the country.
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Arizona has made 5 of 7 3-point shots, which is the reason it leads 30-25 with 6:32 to play. Cats seem to be playing much better than Washington, but you wouldn’t expect the Huskies to just fade away. And they’re not. Isaiah Thomas has seven points.
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Derrick Williams hits a 3-pointer falling away and lands on the floor out of bounds right in front of university president Robert Shelton (yes, he’s wearing white).
Arizona leads 30-22 although its offense has been a bit chippy lately.
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Tweets Seth Davis of CBS and Sports Illustrated: Love the white-out look at Tucson. Reason number 4,326 college hoops is better than the NBA.
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The white-clad Zona Zoo about 90 minutes before tip-off.
Jordin Mayes and Jamelle Horne spark the Cats with back-to-back 3-pointers off the bench. Good sign for Arizona that the “others’ are stepping up early. Cats lead 25-15 with 11:47 to go in the half.
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First UA subs come in with 13:12 to play. Three new players — Horne, Mayes, Parrom.
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No subs for Sean Miller at the first media timeout. Is that a first this season?
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Arizona leads 15-6 at the first media timeout with 15:58 left, and Kyle Fogg will be going to the line to shoot a free throw after being fouled on a made 3-pointer. (He makes the free throw.)
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Tweet from new UA recruit Angelo Chol, who committed Thursday: Lets Get this W Cats!!
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Tweet from UA legend Jennie Finch: Watching Wildcat Basketball @ESPN w/ one of their biggest fans my mom! Gotta love it! Go U of A! Bear Down Az!
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It’s the loudest McKale has been all season. MoMo Jones nails a 3-pointer for a 9-2 lead and a Washington timeout with 17:47 to play in the half.
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Arizona adds Lute Olson to pre-game video montage, with the coach replacing Steve Kerr at the end, saying, “THIS is Arizona.” Classic. Crowd goes nuts. Was Arizona saving that all season? If so, brilliant move.
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College hoops guru Ken Pomeroy will be tweeting the win probability for each team during media timeouts. Follow him on Twitter — @kenpomeroy
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Ted Miller of ESPN.com arrives at the seat next to me about three minutes before tip-off (I-10 shut down as he left this morning from Scottsdale).
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Best thing Arizona does on game day: The band’s version of the National Anthem. The worst thing: Arizona doesn’t let the band play it before every game.
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It’s Big Game afternoon at McKale Center, with the 12th-ranked Arizona Wildcats taking on the preseason Pac-10 favorite Washington Huskies.
Arizona basketball has been a hot topic all week, leading to this showdown on ESPN, with Brad Nessler and Jimmy Dykes. The Cats have won seven in a row, and national writers have been talking about the matchup all week. Coach Sean Miller even had a friendly interview Friday on Jim Rome’s radio show.
Feels like old times, doesn’t it?
A new twist on the old theme is the White-Out at McKale. Miller was asked Friday if he was planning to wear white, too. He gave a great answer, as reported by the Arizona Daily Star’s Bruce Pascoe and Seattle media: “I’d look like a marshmallow.”
Some pre-game reading:
Gimino prediction: Guard play makes the difference for Arizona
Rivera prediction: Dawgs in a close one
Javier Morales: Arizona-Washington matchup breakdown (plus prediction)