| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) -- Arizona (No. 2 ESPN/USA Today, No. 1 AP) advanced to the
championship game of the Maui Invitational for the third time in as
many appearances with a 76-59 victory over Dayton on Tuesday night.
The Wildcats (2-0) will face Illinois (No. 8 ESPN/USA Today, AP), which beat Maryland (No. 6 ESPN/USA Today, AP) 90-80 in the other semifinal.
|  | | Keith Waleskowski has his shot blocked by Arizona's Luke Walton (4) and Richard Jefferson, right. |
Arizona lost the other title games, to Kentucky in 1993 and Duke
in '97.
"Maybe the third time will be the charm but it's going to take
a great effort," Arizona coach Lute Olson said.
The Wildcats played their second game without preseason
All-America center Loren Woods, who was suspended for six games for
undisclosed NCAA rules violations.
As in the 97-57 opening-round win over Chaminade, they didn't
need him as four starters scored in double figures and Arizona
again dominated inside and played great defensively.
"The key for us was we got good pressure on the shooter and
anytime you keep a team in the 30s, you'll be pretty successful,"
Olson said, referring to Dayton's 21-for-59 shooting (35.6
percent).
Michael Wright, who set a tournament record with 19 rebounds in
the opening round, had 18 points and 13 rebounds, while Gilbert
Arenas also had 18 points. Both scored 14 points in the second half
as Arizona pulled away from a 37-28 halftime lead.
Richard Jefferson had 13 points, three assists and three blocks
for Arizona.
Tony Stanley led Dayton (1-1) with 13 points, while senior
center Yuanta Holland, who had a career-high 24 points in the 80-66
first-round win over Connecticut (No. 12 ESPN/USA Today, AP), had eight on 4-for-10
shooting.
"We certainly didn't do as well as we did yesterday and Arizona
had a lot to do with that," Dayton coach Oliver Purnell said.
"Our guards turned the ball over too much and allowed them easy
baskets. They don't need easy baskets and when you give them to
them they get a margin on you and then go inside."
The Flyers were down 34-28 and Stanley was at the foul line for
a 1-and-1 with 7.6 seconds left in the half. He missed the free
throw and Jason Gardner nailed a long 3-pointer at the buzzer.
Arenas hit a 3-pointer 20 seconds into the second half, Wright
made two free throws and Arenas scored on a drive to make it 44-28
with 18:22 to play.
"That was a big 3 by Jason and then we really came out and
created some problems early in the second half and we got some
quick opportunities," Olson said.
The Wildcats got the lead to 20 points for the first time on a
fast-break dunk by Arenas with 14:44 left that made it 52-32. The
closest Dayton got the rest of the way was 59-45 with 9:39 to play.
Eugene Edgerson had nine points and seven rebounds off the bench
for Arizona, which will miss Woods inside against Illinois.
"We want to play the best, we enjoy the competition," he said.
"Illinois is physical and a tall team. We'll have our work cut out
for us and we'll have to play with a lot of poise."
The sellout crowd of 2,500 at the Lahaina Civic Center and
temperatures in the 80s made it extremely uncomfortable inside and
the floor was very slippery in some spots.
"I hope they can find someone to donate air conditioning by
tomorrow," Olson said. "Let some company put up a sign or
something. It got treacherous out there with the big crowd in the
late afternoon."
| |
ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Dayton Clubhouse
Arizona Clubhouse
NCAA denies Woods appeal; hell miss 6 games
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Mt. Jefferson has erupted all over Maui. Richard Jefferson miraculously completes the tail end of the alley-oop.
avi: 1747 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Luke Walton gets the steal and pushes it forward to Richard Jefferson.
avi: 1150 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Eugene Edgerson battles for the rebound then gets the bucket.
avi: 1045 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Jason Gardner drains a deep 3-pointer as time expires in the first half.
avi: 1457 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Gilbert Arenas penetrates the Flyers' defense for the easy two.
avi: 892 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Arizona's Richard Jefferson talks with ESPN's Bill Raftery after defeating Dayton.
wav: 284 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
|
