Akinjo has 18, Arizona turns back Montana 70-64
TUCSON, Ariz. -- — James Akinjo scored 18 points, Jordan Brown added 15, and Arizona pulled out a 70-64 win win over Montana on Tuesday night.
The Wildcats (6-1) picked up their third win against the Big Sky Conference but for the second time they trailed at halftime before pulling it out down the stretch.
Montana led 36-29 at the half, shooting 52%, making 3 of 6 from 3-point range and all nine of its free throws. The Grizzlies were also even on the boards with Arizona, which was 1 of 8 from 3-point range and shot 33% from the field and was just 8 of 16 from the foul line.
Despite Montana (3-5) cooling off in the second half (35%), getting into foul trouble and committing 11 of their 19 turnovers, Arizona didn't take the lead for good until Bennedict Mathurin made back-to-back buckets; his dunk at 8:29 making it 53-49.
Montana got a basket from Robby Beasley about a half-minute later but then went almost 7 1/2 minutes with a field goal, missing six times with two turnovers.
Arizona, which went 3 of 14 from 3-point range, got a pair of big ones inside the final five minutes, Akinjo making it a five-point game and Azuolas Tubelis making it 64-56 with 2:44 to go.
Montana was 20 of 22 from the foul line, Arizona 19 of 34.
Arizona (6-1) beat Northern Arizona 96-53 but only edged Eastern Washington 70-67 after trailing 43-38 at halftime before pulling out a 70-67 win.
Beasley, a freshman who missed the first six games with a leg injury, scored 17 points off the bench for the Grizzlies. Kyle Owens added 13.
Arizona, now 113-12 at McKale Center, was 36 of 73 (49%) behind the arc in its previous four games.
------
Game Information
- Referees:
- Mike Scyphers
- Michael Greenstein
- Crystal Hogan
2023-24 Big Sky Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Eastern Washington | 15-3 | - | 21-11 |
Montana | 12-6 | 3 | 24-12 |
Northern Colorado | 12-6 | 3 | 19-14 |
Weber State | 11-7 | 4 | 20-12 |
Montana State | 9-9 | 6 | 17-18 |
Portland State | 8-10 | 7 | 17-15 |
Northern Arizona | 7-11 | 8 | 14-19 |
Idaho State | 7-11 | 8 | 14-20 |
Idaho | 5-13 | 10 | 11-21 |
Sacramento State | 4-14 | 11 | 10-24 |
2023-24 Pac-12 Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Arizona | 15-5 | - | 27-9 |
Washington State | 14-6 | 1 | 25-10 |
Colorado | 13-7 | 2 | 26-11 |
Oregon | 12-8 | 3 | 24-12 |
UCLA | 10-10 | 5 | 16-17 |
Utah | 9-11 | 6 | 22-15 |
Washington | 9-11 | 6 | 17-15 |
California | 9-11 | 6 | 13-19 |
USC | 8-12 | 7 | 15-18 |
Arizona State | 8-12 | 7 | 14-18 |
Stanford | 8-12 | 7 | 14-18 |
Oregon State | 5-15 | 10 | 13-19 |