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. -- Obinna Ekezie, scoreless until the final six minutes of the game, hit a game-tying jumper and six free throws down the stretch as Maryland held off Illinois 67-61 Saturday in the second round of the NCAA West Regional.

Vowing to pound the ball inside, Maryland instead turned to the outside shooting of Sarunas Jasikevicius, who scored 20 points, and Rodney Elliott, who added 16, to overcome Illinois' muscular play.

First round: SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Ekezie bulled around the basket like Shaquille O'Neal and Elliott did anything he wanted Thursday in Maryland's 82-68 win over Utah State in the NCAA West Regional.

A first-round loser the past two years, Maryland brushed off a few scary minutes midway through the first half, regained control by popping 3-pointers, and dominated the entire second half.

Ekezie, a 6-foot-10, 256-pounder from Nigeria, started the game with a two-handed dunk and finished with 17 points and seven rebounds. Elliott, leaner at 6-8 but strong and quick, posted 21 points and 11 rebounds.