LOS ANGELES (AP) — KJ Lewis scored 18 points, Caleb Love added 17 and No. 5 Arizona routed UCLA 88-65 to clinch the Pac-12 regular-season title Thursday night in the Wildcats’ final season in the league.
The Wildcats (24-6, 15-4) got some help in the Pacific Northwest, where Washington defeated second-place Washington State 74-68. Arizona is headed to the Big 12 next season, while the Bruins are bound for the Big Ten.
Jaden Bradley added 13 points for Arizona, which had five players in double figures while winning its fourth in a row. The Wildcats earned their first win at Pauley Pavilion under third-year coach Tommy Lloyd, who was 0-2 in the building.
The Bruins had won five straight at home against Arizona, but the Wildcats took over after the game was tied three times in the opening minutes.
Lazar Stefanovic scored 20 to lead UCLA (14-16, 9-10), which lost its season-worst fifth in a row.
WASHINGTON 74, NO. 18 WASHINGTON STATE 68
PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) — Koren Johnson scored 23 points, Keion Brooks Jr. added 22 and Washington knocked off Washington State 74-68 in the final Pac-12 matchup between the cross-state rivals.
Washington State (23-8, 14-6) failed to get stops at critical moments and shot 4 of 24 from 3-point range.
The second-place Cougars came in hoping for their first conference title since 1941, but their loss coupled with Arizona’s victory at UCLA clinched the Pac-12 regular-season crown outright for the Wildcats.
As for the Huskies (17-14, 9-11), they spoiled what had been a charmed season at home for the Cougars in the final meeting between the schools as members of the Pac-12. The hoops version of the Apple Cup is likely to continue, but it will be with the Cougars in the West Coast Conference and the Huskies in the Big Ten.
It was Washington’s first road win over a ranked opponent since beating Kansas on Dec. 6, 2017.
Isaac Jones led Washington State with 20 points but was 2 of 8 from the foul line. Leading scorer Myles Rice was held to eight points on 2-of-9 shooting.
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