TUCSON, Ariz. – Nick Johnson scored 17 points, Solomon Hill added 12 in his final home game and No. 18 Arizona earned a first-round bye in next week's Pac-12 tournament with a 73-58 rout over rival Arizona State on Saturday.
A late-season slide left Arizona (24-6, 12-6 Pac-12) needing a win or some help to avoid playing next Wednesday in the conference tournament. The Wildcats took care of it themselves, building a 15-point lead in the first half and answering a big second-half run by the Sun Devils with one of their own.
Kevin Parrom had 13 points in his final game at the McKale Center and Kaleb Tarczewski had one of his most aggressive games of the season, finishing with nine points and eight rebounds.
Arizona State (20-11, 9-9) pulled within five in the second half, but had trouble holding onto the ball, its 17 turnovers leading to 21 points for Arizona.
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