gostanford.com photo: Stanford Cardinal Reid Travis (22) leads the Cardinal with 23 points but it’s not enough as Stanford drops it’s 14th game of the season

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, March 1, 2018

After a tumultuous week, Sean Miller returned to the University of Arizona sideline, and the No. 19-Wildcats responded with a 75-67 Pac-12 men’s basketball win over visiting Stanford at McKale Center in Tucson.

The victory, Arizona’s 17th consecutive over the Cardinal, gives the Wildcats at least a share of the league championship. Arizona (23-7 overall, 13-4 conference) also clinched the top seed in the Pac-12 tournament.

Dusan Ristic topped the U of A scoring with 21 points – 15 in the first half. Alonzo Trier, back in uniform after serving an NCAA two-game suspension, was next with 18 points.

Freshman Deandre Ayton, who leads the Pac-12 in scoring and rebounding, added 12 points and 10 rebounds.

Reid Travis was Stanford’s top scorer with 23 points. The Cardinal (16-14 overall, 10-7 Pac-12) saw their hopes of a top-four finish dim, along with their shot at a first-round bye.

Miller received a rousing ovation upon entering the arena. Earlier in the day, he read a prepared statement denying he had approved a monetary payment to Ayton, or any other player, during his tenure at the U of A.

The university’s president also made a statement, saying that the school’s investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing, and that the university would stand by its coach.

ESPN, meanwhile, insists its report that a wiretap, alleging that Miller spoke about a $100,000 payoff to Ayton, is accurate. Ayton denies receiving any payment to attend U of A.

The Wildcats held a 37-28 lead at halftime, though Stanford battled back in the second half, cutting its deficit to 69-64 on a Daejon Davis dunk with 1:04 remaining.

Arizona put the game away on four free throws by Trier and two from Ayton.

Stanford travels to Tempe on Saturday to face Arizona State. A Cardinal win could help revive the team’s hope of a top-four finish in the Pac-12 race.