The Arizona Wildcats were able to pull away in the second half and defeat the USC Trojans in the Pac-10 Semifinals by the score of 67-62. In a game of runs that saw the Trojans take an early lead, it was Sean Miller's Wildcats who went on a 10-2 run early in the second half and were able to hold off any further USC attempt at a comeback.
The Wildcats were led once again by Pac-10 Player of the Year Derrick Williams who scored 20 points on an extremely efficient 7-10 shooting. He hit all his big free throws down the stretch and was patient and effective within the flow of the balanced offense.
The depth of the number-one seeded Arizona Wildcats also played a big role in their ability to win the game in the final minutes. The Trojans only used seven players (with one reserve only seeing a single minute of floor time) in the game. The Wildcats got 23 points from five players off their bench compared to just four bench points for USC.
USC was without head coach Kevin O'Neill who was suspended by the university due to an altercation with an Arizona fan at a hotel bar the previous evening. It is rumored that O'Neill will be fired by the the school on Monday.
With the win the Arizona Wildcats advance to the Pac-10 Tournament Finals tomorrow against the winner of tonight's Washington - Oregon game.
For more on the game, visit AZ Desert Swarm.