Wildcats beat Cougars: Ayton earns 14th double-double, Trier, Alkins perfect from three

Arizona Basketball dominated Washington State. The Big Cats beat the Cougars,100-72. Deandre Ayton earned his 14th double-double, Trier and Alkins each made four out of four three’s.

It wasn’t really a huge battle of the Cats. But the Big Cats, Deandre Ayton, Allonzo Trier, Rawle Alkins, and team, ended up trouncing the Washington State Cougars. Arizona has won 16 of their last 17 games and with the win over the Washington State scoring 100 points as the beat the Cougars by 28 points,100-72.

Arizona Basketball moves to 9-1 in the Pac-12 and 19-4 overall! Take that AP Top 25 voters! Let’s take it from the second half as the Wildcats skipped into the locker room ahead by 19 points, 47-28. In Alkins return he started out missing a shot, throwing into a turnover, then fouling. But it was all gravy after that as he hit back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers!

Alkins ended the half with 11 points in his return. Deandre Ayton, the beast that he is, had earned a double-double with more than a 10 minutes to go in the half. Dre ended the half with 14 points and ten rebounds. At one point, Deandre dribbled out of a double team, something the Cougars weren’t .expecting, and neither were we for that matter.

Trier hit the first points of the night, and it was a doozy. He hit a three-pointer from down-town and was fouled then made the free-throw scoring the first four points of the game. Trier had himself a half missing only one shot scoring 15 points, and Parker Jackson-Cartwright dished four dimes but was cold from the field (0-5).

The Cougars went for over six minutes without hitting a shot. Wazzu’s Robert Franks seemed to be the only Cougar who could get a shot off, ending the night with 25 points and three rebounds. Franks hit ten three’s against Cal and made 5-7 against the Cats. The Cougars are No. 1 in the Pac-12 at making three’s, but that didn’t phase the Cats, who are No. 31 in the country and No. 1 in the Pac-12 in three-shot percentage. Arizona made 6-9 three’s in the first half.

Arizona Wildcats Basketball

The Wildcats had a field day in the second half, up by 33 points and 12 minutes to go in the game, 75-42. But the Cougars cut the lead to 20 points. The game was tied at 20 points early on for only 38 seconds, but the Cougs could not make any headway. In all 14 players got to play tonight. Alex Barcello, Jake DesJardins, Matt Weyand, and Talbott Denny all got a chance to play. Some hadn’t seen the court since the season opener.

Arizona’s big four, Ayton, Alkins, Ristic, and Trier, kept the train rolling for the Cardinal and Navy. Here are some key points to the win:

• Arizona Scored 100 points as the Beat the Cougars 100-72 (28 points)
• Arizona is now 19-4, 9-1
• Four Cats scored in double figures
• Deandre Ayton – 25 points 11 rebounds, two blocks (Double-Double)
• Allonzo Trier – 24 points, five rebounds, two assists, extremely efficient at perfect (4-4) from three and 8-9 from the field
• Rawle Alkins – 16 points, one block 6-8 from the field and perfect (4-4) from three in just 16 minutes (nine in the first half). So King Rawle average a point a minute!
• Dusan Ristic – 12 points, nine rebounds
• Keanu Pinder was perfect tonight making both free throws and both shots
• Parker Jackson-Cartwright – four rebounds, only one turnover
• Miller said this was the Cats “Best offensive performance of the season.”
• Miller feels that there is a lot more confidence in the team and more depth

Highlights:

https://twitter.com/Pac12Network/status/958935877945716738

Miller post-game:

Ayton has gotten a ton of attention lately and scored interviews on National TV as well as being named as the No. 1 2018 NBA Draft pick in several mock drafts. Playing soccer as a child has helped Ayton move his feet in basketball. Is there anyone bad you can say about Dre or his game? It is tough to do as he improves in each game he plays. He most certainly is making the case to join past legends of Arizona Basketball.

Ayton is was named the Unicorn Center by Bleacher Report Magazine writer David Gardner. Ayton told Gardner, “I don’t think—I know,” about being the No. 1 pick in the draft this year. According to Gardner, Deandre would say later, “I’m the No. 1 pick in the draft.” As Arizona Football Coach Kevin Sumlin would say, Yes Sir!

Must Read: More on Arizona Basketball from ZZ..

The Wildcats take on the No. 3 ranked Washington Huskies in Seattle, Allonzo Trier’s hometown, this Saturday night at 8:30 pm MST/7:30 pm PST once again on the Pac-12 Network. Curious to hear how you felt about the in-game announcing without Bill Walton at the helm.