LAHAINA, Maui — Stanley Johnson had shown glimpses of his precocious talent during Arizona’s first five games, occasionally showing up on the highlight reels with a soaring dunk or blocked shot.
LAHAINA, Maui — Stanley Johnson had shown glimpses of his precocious talent during Arizona’s first five games, occasionally showing up on the highlight reels with a soaring dunk or blocked shot.
Under the bright lights of a premiere tournament and a national television audience, the talented freshman stole the show.
Johnson played his best on one of college basketball’s biggest early-season stages, scoring 18 points and grabbing nine rebounds to help No. 3 Arizona gut out a 61-59 victory over No. 15 San Diego State for its second Maui Invitational title Wednesday night.
“We have a lot of guys who don’t like losing here and I’m the same way,” said Johnson, who added three steals.
Arizona (6-0) withstood a stiff semifinal challenge against Kansas State and faced a bigger one against the athletic Aztecs (5-1).
The Wildcats traded blows in this heavyweight bout in paradise, coming up with the big plays down the stretch to win their 33rd straight regular-season non-conference game.
Johnson was seemingly everywhere, grabbing steals, swatting shots into the stands, pogo-sticking for offensive rebounds. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson gave Arizona his usual exuberant boost, with 14 points, six rebounds and relentless hustle.
And when it came down to the end, the Wildcats closed in around San Diego State defensively to add to the Maui title they won in 2000.
“We leave here feeling very good about what we accomplished,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said. “We have a long way to go, but I feel like our team took the next step, grew up, improved, and that’s what happens when you challenge yourself against this type of competition.”
Trey Kell had a four-point play with 17 seconds to go and Winston Shepard hit a 3-pointer with less than a second left, but it wasn’t enough for the Aztecs.
San Diego State had a hard time getting good looks at the basket when Arizona turned up the defensive pressure in the second half and was a little too late in the big-play department.
By wire source