LAS VEGAS — Brandon Ashley scored 20 points, Stanley Johnson added 14 and No. 5 Arizona crushed Oregon 80-52 Saturday night to win its first Pac-12 tournament title in 13 years.
Top-seeded Arizona (31-3) rolled over Oregon in a dominating first half, building a 15-point lead with a flurry of 3-pointers and baskets in transition.
The Wildcats let up a little defensively in the second half, but were even better on offense to polish off their first Pac-12 championship since Lute Olson was coach and Luke Walton was tournament MVP in 2002.
T.J. McConnell had 12 points and six assists for the Wildcats, who shot 54 percent.
Oregon (25-9) was out of it almost from the start after Arizona went on two big first-half runs. The Ducks played better offensively in the second half, but had no chances of catching the racing Wildcats.
Joseph Young had 19 for Oregon, which still should be in good position to get an NCAA Tournament invite on Selection Sunday.
Arizona has been in this spot before; the Wildcats were playing in their fourth Pac-12 championship game in Sean Miller’s six years as coach.
Winning it has been another story. Arizona Pac 12 title drought included a loss to UCLA in the championship game last season.
The Wildcats won the regular-season title and got to this year’s championship game by beating California and UCLA.
Oregon had a strong finish to the regular season, then beat Colorado and Utah to strengthen its NCAA Tournament chances.
Arizona rolled over the Ducks twice during the regular season, winning by 18 in Eugene and 24 in Tucson.
The Wildcats did it to the Ducks again, blowing past them with a 14-0 run in the first half and another 10-0 spurt to lead 36-21 at halftime.
Arizona hit 15 of 31 shots, had eight offensive rebounds and held the Ducks to 7-of-25 shooting. The Wildcats also hounded Young, holding him to seven points — two after a quick flurry to start the game — on 2-of-10 shooting.
Oregon played better offensively in the second half and Young got untracked. The Ducks made 11 of 20 shots and Young confidently stroked in jumpers, scoring 13 in the half.
Oregon never put a dent in Arizona’s lead, though, because it couldn’t stop the Wildcats.
Arizona made 15 of 24 shots in the second half, stretching the lead even more as the clock wound down.
Tip-ins
Oregon: Elgin Cook and Arizona’s Kaleb Tarczewski were called for double technical fouls in the second half after getting tangled and jawing at each other. … A few minutes later, Young was hit with a Flagrant 1 foul for taking a swipe at Tarczewski while fighting for a loose ball.
Arizona: The Wildcats had a 36-18 advantage in the paint and 37-20 rebounding. … Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had had seven points, nine rebounds and five assists.
