GAME DAY
FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014 • PAGE 19 TWITTER.COM/WILDCATSPORTS
COMEBACK CATS
Arizona overcame aggressive San Diego State to win 70-64, earning Arizona’s 10th Elite Eight appearance, its second in the last four years LUKE DELLA ANAHEIM, Calif. — Nick Johnson scored 15 out of the Wildcats’ last 16 points to beat San Diego State 70-64 in the Sweet Sixteen at the Honda Center on Thursday night. But Johnson, the Pac-12 Conference’s Player of the Year, was just 2:44 away from going home and being held scoreless in Arizona’s most tightly contested game of the season. “That was the most physical, hard-fought game of the season for us,” Arizona head coach Sean Miller said. “San Diego State really set the tone on how the game was going to be played.” Though Johnson’s final 14 points — nine of which came at the free throw line — were the key to the game in the box score, it was the physical play by the Wildcats’ junior point guard T.J. McConnell that eventually ignited Johnson to go on that final offensive run. McConnell, who had to dive to the ground to secure the steal, then passed it to an open sophomore guard Gabe York, who found Johnson streaking to the hoop for his first points of the game. “That was the play of the game,” York said. Johnson finished with 15 points on 2-for-12 shooting from the field, but he made all 10 free throws he took. “Coach, the whole coaching staff, all the team, they’re great with keeping me up,” Johnson said. “When I hit one shot, it just started to feel a little better.” Johnson’s struggles only aggravated what was already a frustrating night for the Wildcats as whole. From the opening possession, the Aztecs’ defense pressured Arizona with a full-court press. The overwhelming pressure screwed with Arizona’s tempo and allowed SDSU to be the
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ELITE EIGHT COVERAGE FROM ANAHEIM
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ARIZONA FRESHMAN FORWARD Aaron Gordon completes an alley-oop after receiving a pass from Arizona sophomore guard Gabe York during the second half of Arizona’s 70-64 victory against SDSU at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., on Thursday. Arizona advances to play Wisconsin in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight on Saturday.
SCORE CENTER ARCHIE MOVES ON (11) Dayton 82 (10) Stanford 72
FLORIDA SURVIVES (1) Florida 79 (4) UCLA 68
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For the love of God, WILL SOMEBODY GET NICK JOHNSON A TIE! —@SeanMillersTie, SeanMillersTie
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