Defending NCAA champion Arizona, stymied by a combination of Utah's stifling defense and its own horrendous shooting, was stunned 76-51 by the third-seeded Utes in Saturday's West Regional championship.

The Utes, rarely mentioned on the same level as the nation's basketball powers, handed the Wildcats their worst postseason loss ever. Arizona lost to Kentucky by 24 points in the 1946 National Invitation Tournament.

Sweet 16: ANAHEIM, Calif. -- There's no stopping Arizona's scoring spurts.

Playing their closest game yet in the NCAA tournament, the top-seeded Wildcats turned their scoring on and off at will, getting a flurry of points when they needed them. And they did against Maryland.

Mike Bibby scored 18 of his 26 points in the first half as defending champion Arizona defeated the fourth-seeded Terrapins 87-79 Thursday night to advance to the West Regional final.

Second round: SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- While other teams brag about 40 minutes of hell, Arizona needed just 2 1/2 minutes of suffocating defensive pressure to turn a tie game into a second-round rout of Illinois State in the West Regional.

The Wildcats forced six turnovers during a 15-0 run early in the second half of their 82-49 win Saturday over the Redbirds, a victory that sent the defending national champions to a third-round game against Maryland.

Miles Simon had 19 points and Mike Bibby added 19 points and seven assists as Arizona (29-4) reached the round of 16 for the seventh time in the last 11 years. Michael Dickerson added 14 points for the Wildcats.

Dan Muller had 17 points for Illinois State (25-6), which has never advanced past the second round in the NCAA tournament.

First round: SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Arizona, a defending national champion still playing with a chip on its shoulder, took a 25-point halftime lead and coasted to a 99-60 first-round victory over Nicholls State in the NCAA tournament West Regional.

Miles Simon scored 24 points and Mike Bibby had 19 for the Wildcats, who had all five starters in double figures by early in the second half.

A.J. Bramlett added 16 points, Michael Dickerson had 17 and Bennett Davison had 12 for the Wildcats, who led by as many as 42 points late in the game.