The second-ranked Arizona Wildcats started slow but finished strong to beat Stanford at home 81-69.
The Wildcats outscored Stanford 44-30 in the second half to come away with their 18th straight home victory.
These key stats explain Arizonaโs 27th win of the season.
3: Benn Mathurin has scored 20-plus points in three consecutive home games, pouring in a team-high 24 against the Cardinal. He knocked down 8 of 14 (57%) from the floor while also going 7 for 9 from the free throw line. Heโs shot 50% or better in six of Arizonaโs last nine games.
33: Christian Kolokoโs combined points (21), rebounds (10) and blocks (2) in Thursdayโs win. Kolokoโs 21 points were his most since scoring 22 against Washington on Jan. 3. It also marked his first double-double effort since Jan. 29 and seventh of the year.
35-26: Stanford was able to gain the early advantage in the first half and at one point, held a nine-point lead over Arizona with 2:58 before halftime. Arizona closed on a 11-4 run to pull within a possession.
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22%: After connecting on their first six 3s and 7 of 10 in the first half, Stanford went cold from beyond the arc in the second, going 2 for 9 (22%). Four first-half 3s came from Michael OโConnell, who didnโt score a point in the final 20 minutes.
12: Kerr Kriisa has hit a 3-pointer in 12 straight games. He had two against Stanford, one of which came during a stretch where UA hit 10 straight field goals.
605: With 21 assists against Stanford, Arizona eclipsed the 600-mark for the season.
22 for 27: The Wildcats got to the free-throw line regularly on Thursday, knocking down 22 of 27. Itโs the seventh time attempting 20 or more foul shots and their sixth-highest conversion rate (81%) of the year.
17: The Wildcats (27-3, 17-2) became the seventh Pac-12 team to win 17 conference games in a year; they can become the first to reach 18 with a victory over Cal on Saturday. The first six teams to accomplish the feat played an 18-game conference schedule.
Photos: Arizona Wildcats take a nail-biter from Stanford
University of Arizona vs Stanford
Updated
Mar 9, 2022
It's all hands on Arizona Wildcats guard Pelle Larsson (3) as he fights for a rebound against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
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Mar 5, 2022
Arizona Wildcats guard Bennedict Mathurin (0) slams home a fast break dunk as teammate guard Dalen Terry (4) celebrates as the team finally starts to get some separation from the Stanford Cardinal in the second half in their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
Updated
Mar 9, 2022
Arizona Wildcats center Christian Koloko (35) gets hit from all sides, Stanford Cardinal forward Jaiden Delaire (11), lifter, and forward James Keefe (22) while trying to shoot in the first half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
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Mar 3, 2022
Arizona Wildcats forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) gets fouled on a drive by Stanford Cardinal forward Max Murrell (10) in the first half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
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Mar 3, 2022
Arizona Wildcats guard Dalen Terry (4) scoops under Stanford Cardinal forward Max Murrell (10) fore a bucket in the first half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
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Mar 3, 2022
Arizona Wildcats guard Bennedict Mathurin (0) gestures to the crowd after draining a long range three over the Stanford Cardinal in the second half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
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Mar 3, 2022
Arizona Wildcats guard Pelle Larsson (3) gets squeezed out trying to keep Stanford Cardinal forward Lukas Kisunas (32) from handing off to forward Jaiden Delaire (11) in the first half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
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Mar 3, 2022
Arizona Wildcats guard Bennedict Mathurin (0) comes eye-to-eye with the basket finishing off a fast break against the Stanford Cardinal in the second half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
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Mar 4, 2022
Arizona Wildcats forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) has an anti-war slogan written on his shoes as he takes the floor for the second half against the Stanford Cardinal at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
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Mar 3, 2022
Arizona Wildcats guard Justin Kier (5) pulls up to drop a basket over Stanford Cardinal guard Michael O'Connell (5) in the second half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
Updated
Mar 3, 2022
Arizona Wildcats center Christian Koloko (35) rises above the crowd to swat away a shot from Stanford Cardinal forward James Keefe (22) in the second half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
Updated
Mar 3, 2022
Arizona Wildcats center Christian Koloko (35) pulls down a defensive rebound over Stanford Cardinal forward Harrison Ingram (55) in the first half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
Updated
Mar 9, 2022
Arizona Wildcats center Christian Koloko (35) looks for room to pass in the paint against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
Updated
Mar 3, 2022
Arizona Wildcats guard Pelle Larsson (3) hangs from the rim after slamming home a dunk against the Stanford Cardinal in their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
Updated
Mar 3, 2022
Arizona Wildcats guard Dalen Terry (4) lofts a soft jumper in the second half against the Stanford Cardinal at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
Updated
Mar 3, 2022
Arizona Wildcats guard Bennedict Mathurin (0) celebrates after dropping a long range three against the Stanford Cardinal in the second half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
Updated
Mar 3, 2022
NASCAR driver and former Arizona student Kurt Busch talks to reporters before the Arizona Wildcats tip off against the Stanford Cardinal at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
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Aug 22, 2022
John-Paul Rocznaik poses with Wilbur and a representative check for the Lute Olson Endowment for Excellence during the half time of the Arizona Wildcats against the Stanford Cardinal at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
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Oct 19, 2023
Arizona Wildcats guard Kerr Kriisa (25) gets the headband just right before heading out for the team's workout prior to tipoff against the Stanford Cardinal at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
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Mar 3, 2022
Arizona Wildcats center Christian Koloko (35), left, juggles a basketball soccer style while guard Pelle Larsson (3) watches from the front row seats before their game against the Stanford Cardinal at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
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Mar 4, 2022
All the Stanford Cardinal players can only watch as Arizona Wildcats forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) finishes off break with a windmill dunk in the second half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
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Mar 4, 2022
Arizona Wildcats guard Kerr Kriisa (25) dances in celebration after forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) slammed home a basket against the Stanford Cardinal in the second half of their Pac 12 men's basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
Updated
Mar 4, 2022
Arizona Wildcats center Christian Koloko (35) invites more noise from an excited crowd during a rough second half against the Stanford Cardinal at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
Updated
Mar 4, 2022
Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd talks to his players during stoppage in the second half against the Stanford Cardinal in the second half at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
University of Arizona vs Stanford
Updated
Mar 24, 2024
Arizona Wildcats forward Azuolas Tubelis, right, elbows his way around Stanford Cardinal forward Lukas Kisunas in the first half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center on March 3, 2022.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Contact sports producer Alec White at 573-4161 or awhite1@tucson.com . On Twitter: @alecwhite_UA