UNDATED (AP) — Second-ranked Arizona took a while to get going on Thursday before beating Stanford.
Bennedict Mathurin scored 24 points and Christian Koloko added 21 as the Wildcats topped the Cardinal, 81-69. The Wildcats labored through most of the first half after clinching the Pac-12 regular-season title on Tuesday, falling into a nine-point hole before improving to 27-3 overall and 17-2 in the Pac 12.
Arizona kept itself within reach by scoring 16 points off Stanford’s 11 turnovers, then hit its final six shots to pull to 39-37 at halftime.
In other top-25 men’s basketball action on Thursday:
— Dajuan Harris blocked Mike Miles’ shot in the final seconds and sixth-ranked Kansas avenged a loss to TCU two days earlier with a 72-68 victory. Ochai Agbaji scored 22 points and Christian Braun added 12 for the Jayhawks.
— Fabian White Jr. had 26 points on 11 of 18 shooting as No. 14 Houston earned its sixth straight win, 84-46. The graduate senior has scored at least 20 points in three straight games.
— Da’Monte Williams made four 3-pointers and finished with a season-high 14 points in helping No. 20 Illinois hold off Penn State, 60-55. Williams scored the Illini’s final eight points of the first half, knocking down two 3s and a pair of free throws.
— Malaki Branham scored 22 points and 23rd-rated Ohio State snapped a two-game losing streak with an 80-69 win over Michigan State.
— Keegan Murray furnished 15 of his 23 points in the first half to help No. 24 Iowa build a big lead in an 82-71 decision over Michigan.
