SALT LAKE CITY – Invited into a fast-paced first-round NCAA Tournament game by North Dakota, the Arizona Wildcats happily obliged.
Arizona scored a season high in points while beating the Fighting Hawks 100-82 on Thursday at Vivint Smart Home Arena, tightening up its sometimes-loose defense just enough to win comfortably.
The Wildcats shot 58.1 percent from the field, hitting 4 of 9 3-pointers and shot 22 of 26 free-throws. UA 7-footer Lauri Markkanen, all but unstoppable to the undersized Hawks, led Arizona with 20 points and six rebounds despite only taking one 3-point shot (and missing it).