The seventh-ranked Arizona Wildcats finished their three-game homestand with a home sweep of the L.A. schools.
Along the way, they accomplished things not seen here in years.
Here’s how the Wildcats won their 19th game of the season to improve to 9-1 in Pac-12 play:
18-3: Arizona outscored the Trojans 18-3 over the final 6:29 on the way to a 72-63 win.
Facing a 60-54 deficit, the Wildcats found the extra gear it needed and tied the game in under 40 seconds. An Azuolas Tubelis dunk with 5:34 left gave UA the lead.
14 of 15: USC missed 14 of its final 15 shots to end the game. Boogie Ellis’ layup with 3:58 left marked the Trojans’ last made field goal.
10 of 12: For the second straight game, the Wildcats had trouble converting their free throws early. The UA hit just 6 for 12 in the first half. Like in Thursday’s win over UCLA, the Wildcats were better in the second half, hitting 10 of 12 from the line.
Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis celebrates after the Wildcats scored a second-half bucket against USC. Tubelis posted his first double-double of the season in Saturday’s nine-point win over the Trojans.
30: Tubelis’ combined points (18), rebounds (11) and blocks (1). It marked the forward’s first double-double of the season and his most points in a game since he scored 32 against Utah on Jan. 15.
11: USC had 11 offensive boards in the first half and eight in the second half. However, Arizona’s defense was able to limit USC to just nine second-chance points.
8:02: Momentum swung in the Trojans’ direction in the second half after Ellis hit back-to-back 3-pointers to answer scoring plays by Arizona. USC took a 55-54 lead at 8:02 to go on free throws from Drew Peterson.
A block from Isaiah Mobley followed by a jumper in transition put the Trojans up by three.
Arizona was forced to call a timeout with 7:00 left after Bennedict Mathurin’s shot was blocked and the USC lead at 59-54.
2017: Arizona has beaten top-20 teams in back-to-back games for the first time March 2017, when it topped No. 3 UCLA and No. 5 Oregon in back-to-back games in the Pac-12 Tournament.
2002: The Wildcats haven’t beaten top-20 teams in back-to-back games during the regular season since 2002, when it topped No. 18 USC and No. 9 UCLA on the same weekend at home.
15: Arizona has won 15 straight games at McKale Center, the longest active streak in the Pac-12 and the seventh-longest in Division I.
Photos: Seventh-ranked Wildcats outlast No. 19 USC
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona Wildcats forward Azuolas Tubelis gets free for a dunk against the USC Trojans in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center on Feb. 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona Wildcats center Christian Koloko (35) swats away a shot from USC Trojans forward Chevez Goodwin (1) helping spark a Wildcat run late in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona Wildcats forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) takes a knee from USC Trojans forward Isaiah Mobley (3) and goes flying on a drive in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona Wildcats guard Pelle Larsson (3), left, and center Christian Koloko (35) revel in the last seconds of their 72-63 win over the USC Trojans in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona Wildcats guard Justin Kier (5) signals his three pointer against the USC Trojans in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona Wildcats guard Kerr Kriisa (25) goes sprawling trying to get the ball from USC Trojans forward Chevez Goodwin (1) in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona Wildcats forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) celebrates after the Wildcats dropped down a tough bucket against the USC Trojans in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona Wildcats guard Dalen Terry (4) does a victory dance as time winds down and the Wildcats building a lead against the USC Trojans in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona Wildcats guard Dalen Terry (4) gets fouled from behind going to the basket against the USC Trojans in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd talks with one of the game officials in the second half against the USC Trojans at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona Wildcats forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) stuffs USC Trojans guard Boogie Ellis (0) in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
The entire USC Trojan defense watches as Arizona Wildcats center Oumar Ballo (11) jams home a dunk in their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona Wildcats forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) finds a seam between USC Trojans forward Isaiah Mobley (3), left, forward Max Agbonkpolo (23) to get off a shot in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
USC Trojans forward Joshua Morgan (24) gets enough of the ball to block the shot from Arizona Wildcats guard Dalen Terry (4) in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona Wildcats guard Dalen Terry (4) leans on the scorers table after knocking heads with USC Trojans guard Boogie Ellis (0) early in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022. Both left the court but returned in the first half.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona Wildcats guard Bennedict Mathurin (0) reverse scoops a bucket against the USC Trojans in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona Wildcats guard Justin Kier (5) finds enough room to get a shot over USC Trojans guard Ethan Anderson (20) in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona Wildcats guard Pelle Larsson (3), left, races USC Trojans forward Isaiah Mobley (3) for the ball in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona Wildcats guard Dalen Terry (4) rips the ball out of the hands of USC Trojans forward Kobe Johnson (2) in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona Wildcats guard Bennedict Mathurin (0) tries to find a seam to pass from the baseline past USC Trojans guard Boogie Ellis (0) and guard Drew Peterson (13) in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona Wildcats guard Bennedict Mathurin (0) can't believe the ball was called out for the USC Trojans in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
USC Trojans guard Drew Peterson (13) gets stripped by Arizona Wildcats guard Pelle Larsson (3) on his drive into the paint in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona Wildcats guard Pelle Larsson (3), left, and guard Kerr Kriisa (25) collapse on USC Trojans forward Isaiah Mobley (3) in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona Wildcats guard Dalen Terry (4) reacts after forcing an USC Trojan turnover in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
University of Arizona vs USC
Updated
Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa (25) gets his shooting arm loose as he and the Wildcats get ready to face the USC Trojans in a Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., February 5, 2022.
