TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Koa Peat scored 18 points, Jaden Bradley added 16 and No. 2 Arizona blew out No. 20 Auburn 97-68 on Saturday night.
The Wildcats (8-0) won their first three games against ranked teams away from Tucson and made an emphatic statement with their first one at McKale Center.
Arizona used two big runs to build a 20-point lead late in the first half and reeled off another opening the second to run away from the Tigers (7-3).
The Wildcats shot 61% from the floor and had a 60-24 advantage in the paint to make a case for the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 following top-ranked Purdue's loss to No. 10 Iowa State.
Auburn could drop out of the poll following a second straight blowout loss against a top-five team.
Tahaad Pettiford tried to keep Auburn in it, scoring 30 points on 10-of-19 shooting, including 5 of 9 from 3. He got little help; the rest of the Tigers shot 25% and went 1 for 16 from 3.
Auburn had an early 7-0 run, but Arizona ran away after that.
Turning up the defense and getting their high-low game going, the Wildcats scored 12 straight points and added another run of 18-3 to go up 44-24.
Auburn threw up a series of wild shots during a 5 1/2-minute scoreless streak, but closed with an 8-0 run to pull within 44-32 at halftime.
Arizona again revved up the defense and the crowd to start the second half, holding Auburn without a field goal the first 5 1/2 minutes during the opening 18-2 run.
Auburn: Plays Chattanooga in Atlanta next Saturday.
Arizona: Play No. 12 Alabama in Birmingham next Saturday.
Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball
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