TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Deandre Ayton had 23 points and 19 rebounds, including a crucial tip-in with 11 seconds to go, and No. 18 Arizona held on to hand No. 4 Arizona State its first loss of the season, 84-78 on Saturday night.
Allonzo Trier, who missed his first six shots but finished with 23 points, made a pair of free throws to put the Wildcats (11-3) ahead 82-78 with 10.3 seconds to go in the teams' Pac-12 opener and one of the most anticipated matchups in the rivalry's history.
Arizona withstood a 31-point performance by the Tra Holder of the Sun Devils (12-1), including 15 of 16 free throws. But the other two usually sharpshooting Arizona State guards, Shannon Evans and Cody Justice, were a combined 5-for-23 shooting, 2 for 14 on 3-pointers.
The Wildcats beat the Sun Devils in Tucson for the eighth straight time.
Arizona State's loss left no unbeaten teams remaining in NCAA Division I after No. 1 Villanova and No. 10 TCU lost earlier in the day.
The Sun Devils had trailed by as many as nine points and come back to win five times this season. But they couldn't quite pull it off in the noisy hostility of McKale Center.
Up 39-37 after a tight first half, Arizona was up 62-50 after Dusan Ristic's dunk with 10:53 remaining.
The Wildcats went cold and Holder scored the final nine in an 11-2 Arizona State run. His baseline floater after an Arizona turnover cut the Wildcats lead to 64-63 with 7:59 to play.
Holder had a chance to put Arizona State ahead but missed a breakaway layup. Evans missed the tip.
The Sun Devils went back up by 10 but Justice's 3-pointer cut it to 78-76 with 1:19 to play. Trier missed a drive but Ayton tipped it in to make it 80-76. Holder's two free throws made it 80-78 before Trier's two from the line clinched the win.
More: Butler upsets No. 1 Villanova, holds off late rally
More: Fans storm the court after Butler beats Villanova
More: No. 3 Duke staves off FSU in ACC action
BIG PICTURE
Arizona State: The Sun Devils were in it all the way and did nothing to diminish the idea that they are a legitimate Pac-12 contender.
Arizona: The Wildcats have won eight straight since their 0-3 disaster in the Bahamas. Their performance on Saturday night showed that Arizona, ranked No. 2 nationally in the preseason, still could be the team to beat in the conference.
UP NEXT
Arizona State: At Colorado on Thursday night.
Arizona: At Utah on Thursday night.
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