Tubelis, Kriisa stand out in No. 2 Arizona's win over Utah
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) In an attempt to protect the interior against the taller Arizona Wildcats, Utah dared them to shoot from the perimeter.
Kerr Kriisa happily obliged and wound up with a triple-double, which was Arizona's first in 18 years.
Teammate Azuolas Tubelis scored 23 points to help power the No. 2 Wildcats over Utah 97-77 on Thursday night.
Kriisa had 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, becoming the first Wildcats with a triple-double since Andre Iguodala in February 2004. But it took a little lobbying to make it happen.
With Arizona up by more than 20, Kriisa had exited the game with nine rebounds. But when he realized how close he was to the statistical mark, he lobbied Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd to go back on the court.
''Put me back in and you're gonna see the hardest box-out that I've ever done,'' Kriisa told Lloyd.
Dalen Terry and Bennedict Mathurin each scored 14 as Arizona (25-2, 15-1 Pac-12) won its ninth straight game.
Gabe Madsen scored 15 and David Jenkins Jr. added 14 for Utah (11-17, 4-14), which had won back-to-back games for the first time since mid-November.
After Utah took its only lead of the game at 28-27, Arizona finished the half on a 26-5 run that took just 6:12 of game time. The surge included five 3-pointers by Kriisa.
''They got aggressive with us and I thought their pressure really bothered us. We had some catastrophic turnovers when we just threw it to them and it led to their dunks,'' Utah coach Craig Smith said.
The final shot came from beyond midcourt just before the halftime buzzer which gave the Wildcats a 53-33 at the break. Kriisa held his arms up high as he was mobbed by his teammates.
''I just got my rhythm going. And, yeah, I mean, it's pretty hard to describe the feeling,'' Kriisa said.
Arizona did all that without attempting a single free throw in the half.
The Wildcats then scored the first nine points of the second half to put the contest out of reach. Two free throws by Tubelis made it 62-33 with 17:57 remaining.
''We stayed locked in and we made some stops as we made some runs,'' Tubelis said.
Kriisa, a sophomore guard from Lithuania who was shooting 33.9% from long range, matched his career high in the first half with seven 3s. In the second half, he focused on hitting the board distributing the ball to help the Wildcats record 24 assists.
''I'm happy for him. I obviously had no idea that he was capable of getting a triple double . It's pretty cool,'' Lloyd said after admitting it was against his philosophy to let players chase statistics but that Kriisa would probably never approach that many rebounds again.
Arizona leads the nation in assists (20.4 per game), rebounds (43.1) and assist rate, and followed suit against the Utes.
In nearly every game, the Wildcats have gone on a big run of 10 consecutive points or more and they had a couple of devastating runs against Utah.
Arizona jumped to 8-0 lead on layups and dunks but Utah caught them at 15, bolstered by seven points each from Carlson and Gach. Utah kept it close with dogged defense until the Kriisa-led outburst at the end of the half that blew the game open.
RUN, RUN, RUN
When the Wildcats can run, they dominate. It all starts with defense.
''We play with good force and good pace. . When we can contest shots at the rim and be aggressive taking away 3s, then that leads to transition basketball and that's how those runs happen,'' Lloyd said.
And when Arizona is rolling, even half-court shots swish.
''It's a fast break or two and maybe even a half-court 3, things like that. It's a combination of how our defense complements our offense. We're pretty relentless,'' Lloyd added.
BIG PICTURE
Arizona: As they have done all season, the Wildcats were able to flip a switch and dominate the game with a 35-5 surge bridging the half. Their defense was suffocating and they scored in bunches, primarily in transition - 27 fast-break points and 52 points from the field.
Utah: The Utes have played much better since their historic 10-game losing streak, but they disintegrated against the Wildcats pressure during the game-deciding run.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
The Wildcats looked every bit the No. 2 team in the country, especially when they are flying up and down the court for dunks and layups.
UP NEXT
Arizona: Plays at Colorado on Saturday night.
Utah: Hosts Arizona State on Saturday night.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | (Wildcats gains possession) | |||
19:45 | +2 | Christian Koloko makes two point dunk (Bennedict Mathurin assists) | 2-0 | |
19:26 | Lazar Stefanovic turnover (bad pass) (Christian Koloko steals) | |||
19:19 | +2 | Dalen Terry makes two point layup | 4-0 | |
19:02 | Branden Carlson turnover (bad pass) | |||
18:46 | +2 | Azuolas Tubelis makes two point layup (Bennedict Mathurin assists) | 6-0 | |
18:25 | Marco Anthony misses two point jump shot | |||
18:23 | Christian Koloko defensive rebound | |||
18:18 | +2 | Azuolas Tubelis makes two point layup (Kerr Kriisa assists) | 8-0 | |
18:15 | Utes 30 second timeout | |||
17:53 | +2 | Branden Carlson makes two point dunk (Rollie Worster assists) | 8-2 | |
17:41 | Bennedict Mathurin misses two point jump shot | |||
17:39 | Branden Carlson defensive rebound | |||
17:35 | +3 | Both Gach makes three point pullup jump shot | 8-5 | |
17:08 | Azuolas Tubelis misses three point jump shot | |||
17:06 | Rollie Worster defensive rebound | |||
16:59 | Rollie Worster misses two point jump shot | |||
16:57 | Riley Battin offensive rebound | |||
16:46 | +2 | Branden Carlson makes two point dunk (Marco Anthony assists) | 8-7 | |
16:30 | Kerr Kriisa misses three point jump shot | |||
16:28 | Azuolas Tubelis offensive rebound | |||
16:28 | +2 | Azuolas Tubelis makes two point putback layup | 10-7 | |
16:19 | Christian Koloko blocks Both Gach's two point jump shot | |||
16:17 | Azuolas Tubelis defensive rebound | |||
16:11 | Dalen Terry misses three point jump shot | |||
16:09 | Rollie Worster defensive rebound | |||
16:00 | Branden Carlson misses three point jump shot | |||
15:58 | Marco Anthony offensive rebound | |||
15:56 | Riley Battin misses two point jump shot | |||
15:54 | Christian Koloko defensive rebound | |||
15:32 | +3 | Dalen Terry makes three point jump shot (Kerr Kriisa assists) | 13-7 | |
15:13 | +2 | Both Gach makes two point layup | 13-9 | |
14:58 | Bennedict Mathurin misses two point jump shot | |||
14:56 | Branden Carlson defensive rebound | |||
14:57 | Azuolas Tubelis personal foul (Branden Carlson draws the foul) | |||
14:31 | +2 | Both Gach makes two point layup (David Jenkins Jr. assists) | 13-11 | |
14:14 | Bennedict Mathurin misses two point jump shot | |||
14:12 | Lahat Thioune defensive rebound | |||
14:03 | Both Gach misses three point jump shot | |||
14:01 | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | |||
13:52 | Pelle Larsson misses three point jump shot | |||
13:50 | Dalen Terry offensive rebound | |||
13:50 | +2 | Dalen Terry makes two point dunk | 15-11 | |
13:30 | Marco Anthony turnover (lost ball) (Pelle Larsson steals) | |||
13:25 | Bennedict Mathurin turnover (lost ball) (Marco Anthony steals) | |||
13:21 | Bennedict Mathurin shooting foul (Marco Anthony draws the foul) | |||
13:21 | Marco Anthony misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
13:21 | +1 | Marco Anthony makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 15-12 | |
13:08 | Pelle Larsson misses three point jump shot | |||
13:06 | Oumar Ballo offensive rebound | |||
12:53 | Justin Kier misses two point jump shot | |||
12:51 | Both Gach defensive rebound | |||
12:44 | +3 | Branden Carlson makes three point jump shot (Both Gach assists) | 15-15 | |
12:24 | Dalen Terry misses two point jump shot | |||
12:22 | David Jenkins Jr. defensive rebound | |||
12:06 | Both Gach misses three point jump shot | |||
12:04 | Kerr Kriisa defensive rebound | |||
11:51 | +3 | Kerr Kriisa makes three point pullup jump shot | 18-15 | |
11:32 | Both Gach turnover (lost ball) (Justin Kier steals) | |||
11:32 | Wildcats 30 second timeout | |||
11:32 | TV timeout | |||
11:28 | Christian Koloko offensive foul (Branden Carlson draws the foul) | |||
11:28 | Christian Koloko turnover | |||
11:07 | +3 | Riley Battin makes three point jump shot (David Jenkins Jr. assists) | 18-18 | |
10:51 | Christian Koloko misses two point jump shot | |||
10:49 | David Jenkins Jr. defensive rebound | |||
10:44 | Pelle Larsson personal foul (David Jenkins Jr. draws the foul) | |||
10:27 | David Jenkins Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
10:25 | Kerr Kriisa defensive rebound | |||
10:10 | Riley Battin personal foul (Bennedict Mathurin draws the foul) | |||
10:08 | +3 | Kerr Kriisa makes three point jump shot (Pelle Larsson assists) | 21-18 | |
10:03 | Christian Koloko blocks Rollie Worster's two point layup | |||
10:01 | Lahat Thioune offensive rebound | |||
9:51 | +2 | Lahat Thioune makes two point putback layup | 21-20 | |
9:39 | +2 | Bennedict Mathurin makes two point driving layup | 23-20 | |
9:24 | Lahat Thioune misses two point jump shot | |||
9:22 | Christian Koloko defensive rebound | |||
9:12 | +2 | Christian Koloko makes two point dunk (Azuolas Tubelis assists) | 25-20 | |
8:56 | Lahat Thioune misses two point layup | |||
8:54 | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | |||
8:40 | Kerr Kriisa misses two point jump shot | |||
8:38 | David Jenkins Jr. defensive rebound | |||
8:21 | Pelle Larsson personal foul | |||
8:12 | +2 | Lahat Thioune makes two point hook shot | 25-22 | |
8:02 | Azuolas Tubelis misses two point jump shot | |||
8:00 | Oumar Ballo offensive rebound | |||
8:00 | Marco Anthony blocks Oumar Ballo's two point layup | |||
8:00 | Wildcats offensive rebound | |||
8:00 | TV timeout | |||
7:50 | +2 | Dalen Terry makes two point pullup jump shot | 27-22 | |
7:34 | +2 | Both Gach makes two point floating jump shot | 27-24 | |
7:27 | Bennedict Mathurin misses two point jump shot | |||
7:25 | Marco Anthony defensive rebound | |||
7:15 | +3 | Gabe Madsen makes three point jump shot (Marco Anthony assists) | 27-27 | |
7:08 | Oumar Ballo misses two point layup | |||
7:06 | Lahat Thioune defensive rebound | |||
7:06 | Jump ball. Both Gach vs. Dalen Terry (Utes gains possession) | |||
6:53 | Both Gach misses two point jump shot | |||
6:51 | Lahat Thioune offensive rebound | |||
6:44 | Oumar Ballo shooting foul (Marco Anthony draws the foul) | |||
6:44 | +1 | Marco Anthony makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 27-28 | |
6:44 | Marco Anthony misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
6:44 | Christian Koloko defensive rebound | |||
6:23 | Gabe Madsen personal foul (Bennedict Mathurin draws the foul) | |||
6:14 | +3 | Kerr Kriisa makes three point jump shot (Dalen Terry assists) | 30-28 | |
5:57 | Both Gach turnover (lost ball) (Bennedict Mathurin steals) | |||
5:45 | +3 | Bennedict Mathurin makes three point pullup jump shot | 33-28 | |
5:38 | Branden Carlson misses three point jump shot | |||
5:36 | Christian Koloko defensive rebound | |||
5:31 | Bennedict Mathurin misses three point jump shot | |||
5:29 | Christian Koloko offensive rebound | |||
5:22 | +3 | Kerr Kriisa makes three point jump shot (Christian Koloko assists) | 36-28 | |
4:52 | +2 | David Jenkins Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot | 36-30 | |
4:52 | +2 | David Jenkins Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot | 36-30 | |
4:34 | +2 | Azuolas Tubelis makes two point hook shot | 38-30 | |
4:16 | Marco Anthony turnover (lost ball) (Dalen Terry steals) | |||
4:05 | +2 | Dalen Terry makes two point driving layup | 40-30 | |
3:54 | Both Gach turnover (traveling) | |||
3:54 | TV timeout | |||
3:38 | +2 | Christian Koloko makes two point dunk (Dalen Terry assists) | 42-30 | |
3:23 | Branden Carlson misses two point jump shot | |||
3:21 | Justin Kier defensive rebound | |||
3:09 | Azuolas Tubelis misses two point jump shot | |||
3:07 | Rollie Worster defensive rebound | |||
2:52 | Branden Carlson turnover (lost ball) | |||
2:36 | Dalen Terry misses three point jump shot | |||
2:34 | Kerr Kriisa offensive rebound | |||
2:21 | Justin Kier misses two point layup | |||
2:19 | Marco Anthony defensive rebound | |||
2:11 | Lazar Stefanovic misses three point jump shot | |||
2:09 | Utes offensive rebound | |||
2:09 | Justin Kier personal foul (Marco Anthony draws the foul) | |||
2:09 | Marco Anthony misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
2:09 | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | |||
1:56 | +3 | Kerr Kriisa makes three point jump shot (Dalen Terry assists) | 45-30 | |
1:30 | Rollie Worster misses two point jump shot | |||
1:28 | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | |||
1:18 | +3 | Kerr Kriisa makes three point jump shot (Pelle Larsson assists) | 48-30 | |
1:18 | Gabe Madsen offensive foul | |||
1:18 | Gabe Madsen turnover | |||
1:06 | Justin Kier misses three point jump shot | |||
1:04 | Lazar Stefanovic defensive rebound | |||
0:54 | Gabe Madsen misses three point jump shot | |||
0:52 | Dalen Terry defensive rebound | |||
0:46 | +2 | Dalen Terry makes two point floating jump shot | 50-30 | |
0:14 | +3 | Gabe Madsen makes three point jump shot (Both Gach assists) | 50-33 | |
0:04 | +3 | Kerr Kriisa makes three point pullup jump shot | 53-33 | |
0:00 | End of period |