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.
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Game Information
- Referees:
- Mike Scyphers
- Michael Greenstein
- Crystal Hogan
2024-25 Big Sky Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Northern Colorado | 6-0 | - | 14-5 |
Montana | 5-2 | 1.5 | 12-8 |
Portland State | 3-2 | 2.5 | 11-7 |
Idaho State | 3-2 | 2.5 | 8-8 |
Idaho | 3-3 | 3 | 8-11 |
Montana State | 3-4 | 3.5 | 8-12 |
Northern Arizona | 2-4 | 4 | 11-8 |
Eastern Washington | 2-4 | 4 | 6-13 |
Weber State | 1-4 | 4.5 | 7-12 |
Sacramento State | 1-4 | 4.5 | 5-13 |
2024-25 Big 12 Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Houston | 7-0 | - | 15-3 |
Iowa State | 6-1 | 1 | 16-2 |
Arizona | 6-1 | 1 | 12-6 |
Kansas | 5-2 | 2 | 14-4 |
Texas Tech | 5-2 | 2 | 14-4 |
West Virginia | 4-3 | 3 | 13-5 |
Baylor | 4-3 | 3 | 12-6 |
BYU | 3-4 | 4 | 12-6 |
UCF | 3-4 | 4 | 12-6 |
Utah | 3-4 | 4 | 11-7 |
TCU | 3-4 | 4 | 10-8 |
Cincinnati | 2-5 | 5 | 12-6 |
Arizona State | 2-5 | 5 | 11-7 |
Oklahoma State | 2-5 | 5 | 10-8 |
Kansas State | 1-6 | 6 | 7-11 |
Colorado | 0-7 | 7 | 9-9 |