Prior to heading to Maui, Tommy Lloyd said Arizona’s defense was “growing” into something that could be pretty good. On Tuesday night, the D hit puberty.
The 14th-ranked Wildcats overcame massive foul trouble by playing lockdown defense, holding No. 17 San Diego State to season lows in points and field goal shooting and pulling away late in an 87-70 win in the Maui Invitational semifinals.
Arizona (5-0) will play for its first Maui title since 2014 when it faces No. 10 Creighton, a 90-87 win over No. 9 Arkansas, at 3 p.m. MT Wednesday. The Wildcats haven’t lost a Maui final since 1997.