Here’s the postgame reaction at this link: Miller’s words after escaping Utah: Disappointed, disaster, pathetic
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Arizona holds Utah scoreless for final 5:42 of the game and ends on a 12-0 run to avoid what would have been a horrible loss. The Cats survive 70-61.
Just win, right?
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Utah gets two 3-point attempts, but both are off the mark. Arizona will survive.
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With the shot clock winding down, Jesse Perry drives inside and gets fouled with three seconds left in the possession. He makes both free throws for a 66-61 lead with 31.8 seconds left.
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Nick Johnson puts in a 3-pointer for a 64-61 lead with 1:24 to go. Arizona gets the ball back with 1:04 left when Utah’s Kareem Story steps on the baseline while trying to drive to the hoop.
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Brendon Lavender has hit four 3-pointers in the second half to help keep the Cats in it. Utah has countered with an unbelievable 9 of 15 accuracy from 3-point range. It is going down to the wire, scored tied at 61 with 3:20 to go. And this was a team the Wildcats beat in Salt Lake City by 26 points.
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Just something to keep in mind: Utah entered the game with an 0-9 record in road games. Including neutral site games, the Utes are 0-12 away from home.
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Arizona can’t shake the Utes, who are lights out from 3-point range. They are 8 of 12 from beyond the arc, and their latest make puts Utah up 56-53. How does a team that normally shoots so poorly from 3 do that against the nation’s best against the 3? Go figure. Small sample size, I guess.
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No quit in the Utes, who get up off the mat after UA’s 15-0 run. A short jumper by Jason Washburn, a 3-pointer by Cedric Martin and a 3-point play from Martin gives Utah a 51-46 lead. Some very surprising drama at McKale Center.
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Utah has five turnovers — and is 0 of 2 from the field — during Arizona’s 15-0 run.
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SG Brendon Lavender hits a 3-pointer with 12:05 to play to give the Wildcats their first lead of the game against Utah, 46-43. Lavender’s shot gives Arizona a 15-0 run, as shots from the outside are finally falling against a 2-3 zone.
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Here is the beginnings of an Arizona run. Brendon Lavender makes a 3-pointer, the UA defense forces a shot-clock violation, and then Kyle Fogg nails a 3. The Cats are down 43-39 as Utah takes a timeout with 13:53 to go.
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OK, the TucsonCitizen.com site was down for a while, so there are some gaps in the updates … but we’re back. Utah led 33-25 at halftime and the Utes are continuing to scare the Wildcats, leading 43-33 with 15:14 to play.
Coach Sean Miller has talked about how devastating it would be “if our defense leaves us.” That is what is happening, as the Utes have made 16 of 27 shots from the field, including 6 of 8 from 3-point range.
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Another four-point play for Arizona, this time from Nick Johnson with 2 minutes to play in the half. Arizona has eight points on two plays … and 15 points on all the other plays combined.
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Kyle Fogg is the only Wildcat with an offensive game today, making a four-point play when he sank a 3-pointer and was fouled on the play. With the free throw, Fogg cut the deficit to 28-19 with 5:20 to go in the half.
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It’s not getting better. Utah has hit two more 3-pointers to double-up Arizona 26-13 with 6:31 to go. Sean Miller has tugged on his tie enough to move the knot down several inches.
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Kyle Fogg removes the lid from the rim and hits the UA’s first 3-pointer of the game with 10:19 to go in the half. He hits another one with 9:45 to go.
All better now?
Well, the Cats are still down 17-11.
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The Wildcats are doing so poorly on offense, you would think Utah was using a triangle-and-two.
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Arizona is one of those offensive funks that happens, oh, just about every game. The Cats are 0 of 6 from 3-point range — with some wild misses — and are 1 of 10 from the field. Utah leads 12-3 with 11:34 left in the half.
I guess the Wildcats don’t like these noon starts.
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Arizona entered the game as the best team in the nation in defending the 3-point shot, allowing 26.5 percent. Utah, meanwhile, has been one of the worst shooting teams, making only 29.4 percent from behind the arc.
Naturally, the Utes made their first two 3-point shots and have come out swinging, leading Arizona 12-3 with 14:54 to go in the half.
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Kyle Fogg checks in with 16:41 to play in the half, Arizona trailing 8-2.
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Kyle Fogg was late for a walk-through, according to a UA official, which is why he did not start today. He is seventh in school history with 110 starts.
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Arizona is expected to have a comfortable victory over Utah, which enters the game with a 2-10 conference record. But here’s a twist: Senior guard Brendon Lavender is starting for senior Kyle Fogg, who has started all 25 games this season.
Fogg looks fine in warm-ups, so perhaps he was just late for a team function or something like that. There has been no official word from Arizona about the reason for Fogg not starting.
Fogg is averaging a team-high 12.6 points per game.
Check back here during the game for more updates … and have your say in the comments section.