NCAA Tournament: Arizona Basketball danced their way back to the Sweet 16!

This will be the fifth Sweet 16 appearance for Sean Miller with the Wildcats, after his Arizona Basketball team beat the St. Mary’s Gaels 69-60.

The first half may have scared all the gamblers who bet on Arizona Basketball to make it farther than the second round. For Arizona Wildcats fans, they are used to the Cardiac Cats.

The Gaels had all the energy in the first half, and Arizona, as usual, seemed a bit asleep at the wheel. Allonzo Trier missed four field goals and two 3-pointers, Lauri and others shot air balls.

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Then the unimaginable happened, when star freshman guard Rawle Alkins, left the game temporarily after hurting his index finger. After a good five or six minutes of play, he came back with his finger taped.

The one saving grace in the first half was Lauri Markkanen, making five free throws and one shot for seven points. Dusan Ristic made some clutch layups.

Then the “King of the City” Rawle Alkins came back and he was the spark plug the Cats needed. They came back to within one, trailing at the half 30-29. Despite Arizona shooting 10-29 from the field, and just 1-7 from three, surprisingly they were only down one.

Alkins certainly showed his toughness coming  in the first half. It was like, What? So I got a little boo boo! I am a SAVAGE!

Both teams play what TBS Commentator Kenny Smith says is “West Coast Basketball.” Charles Barkley felt that only being down by 1 point was fantastic.

“We lost some of our confidence,” said Miller before the second half, “The last five minutes is a good sign for us.”

If Arizona could start making their shots, all would be fine.

And that they did. The Cats would eventually go on an 11-2 run, taking a five-point lead with just minutes left in the game.

When the bigs dribbled, the Gaels capitalized stealing the ball from them at least three times that we can remember.

The referees also did pretty well, letting them play.

At one point it looked like the Cats forgot to pass, Lauri was available for a pretty wide open shot, but Miller put the clamps down on that fast, and put four guards on the court with Lauri to close out the game.

Lauri who killed it in this game, scored his first three of the NCAA Tournament right when it counted the most.

A couple of phenomenal Markkanen plays later, a block and a layup for free throws, the Cats put enough space between them and St. Mary’s to seal the deal.

Postgame players interviews:

Here is a photo gallery of the game for your enjoyment:

March 18, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Rawle Alkins (1) moves the ball against Saint Mary’s Gaels forward Calvin Hermanson (24) and center Jock Landale (34) during the second half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

March 18, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Saint Mary’s Gaels guard Joe Rahon (25) plays for the ball against Arizona Wildcats forward Lauri Markkanen (10) during the second half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

March 18, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Allonzo Trier (35) shoots against Saint Mary’s Gaels guard Joe Rahon (25) during the second half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

March 18, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Arizona Wildcats center Dusan Ristic (14) reacts with guard Kadeem Allen (5) and guard Rawle Alkins (1) against the Saint Mary’s Gaels during the second half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

March 18, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Lauri Markkanen (10) reacts against the Saint Mary’s Gaels during the second half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

March 18, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Allonzo Trier (35) and guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (0) react during the 69-60 victory against the Saint Mary’s Gaels in the second half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

March 18, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Arizona Wildcats fans cheer against the Saint Mary’s Gaels during the second half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

March 18, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Arizona Wildcats Arizona Wildcats guard Kadeem Allen (5) and head coach Sean Miller react during the 69-60 victory against the Saint Mary’s Gaels second half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

March 18, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Rawle Alkins (1) celebrates the 69-60 victory against the Saint Mary’s Gaels following the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

March 18, 2017; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Kadeem Allen (5) scores a basket against Saint Mary’s Gaels forward Calvin Hermanson (24) during the second half in the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

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On to taking on Xavier in the Sweet 16 on Thursday night, a win gets the team to the Elite 8! Bear Down!