Jan. 25, 2006
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - Hassan Adams had 21 points and six steals, and Mustafa Shakur scored 17 points, leading Arizona to an 80-70 win over Arizona State on Wednesday night.
Ivan Radenovic had 13 points and Marcus Williams 11 in the victory, Arizona's 21st in 22 games against the Sun Devils.
The Wildcats (13-6, 6-3 Pac-10) won their third straight.
Kevin Kruger scored 23 points and freshman Jeff Pendergraph had 17 points and 11 rebounds, the first double-double of the season for Arizona State (7-11, 1-8). Bryson Krueger scored his 14 points in the second half.
But they didn't come quickly enough for the Sun Devils, who have lost eight of their last nine.
The Wildcats opened a 41-28 lead on a 6-0 spurt by Radenovic in the first 2:46 of the second half.
Arizona State missed its first six shots of the second, but still had a realistic chance against the more athletic Wildcats with 16:15 to go, when Williams fouled Serge Angounou, sending him to the foul line, and then protested enough to draw a technical foul. Arizona coach Lute Olson then drew another technical.
But with the potential for six points and the ball, the Sun Devils got three - Angounou missed both free throws before Kruger made three of four. Kruger also hit a 3-pointer 10 seconds later, and Arizona State closed within 41-34.
But Adams responded with a 3-pointer. At the end of what became a 22-6 run, Adams made a 19-footer, two free throws and dunked, giving Arizona a 63-47 lead with 6:54 remaining.
The Sun Devils started well, taking a 13-4 lead a 3-pointer by Kruger 4:05 in.
But Pendergraph picked up two quick fouls midway through the first half, going to the bench with nine points and six rebounds.
That took the pressure off Arizona's Kirk Walters, who had four of his career-high five blocks in the first half.
Shakur scored 11 points in the half, the first three on a putback on which he was fouled with 15:24 to go. That got Arizona within 13-7 and started a 16-4 run that sent the Wildcats into the lead for the rest of the game.