Jan. 2, 2005
By MEL REISNER
AP Sports Writer
TUCSON, Ariz. - Salim Stoudamire had 15 of his 18 points in the second half, helping No. 14 Arizona turn a close game into a 97-79 rout of Arizona State in their Pac-10 opener Sunday.
Channing Frye had a season-high 21 points and Mustafa Shakur added 20, including a season-high four 3-pointers, for the Wildcats (11-2), who won their eighth straight.
Hassan Adams, Arizona's second-leading scorer, had eight points on 3-for-14 shooting, but had 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Frye and Ivan Radenovic neutralized the Sun Devils' Ike Diogu, an inside scorer who goes to the free throw line more than anyone in the college game.
Diogu had 23 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks, but went nearly 24 minutes without a field goal when the game was still in doubt as Arizona State had a nine-game winning streak snapped.
The Wildcats put it away with a 14-0 run started by Stoudamire's 3-pointer with 8:39 to play. Stoudamire added a basket and two free throws, and Chris Rodgers capped it with a 3-pointer with 6:32 left, opening an 85-63 lead.
Kevin Kruger had 14 points and Serge Angounou added 12 for the Sun Devils (11-2). Jason Braxton and Steve Moore each had 10, giving Arizona State five starters in double figures.
The Wildcats have won 19 of the last 20 meetings, beating the Sun Devils by 19 and 25 points last season, and they usually dominate the first half.
This time, it was excruciatingly close for 20 minutes.
Stoudamire's 3-pointer 2:06 into the second half put Arizona up 53-43 - the first double-digit lead for either team.
The Sun Devils battled back within four points twice, the second time on a fast-break layup by Moore, cutting the deficit to 56-52 with 14:24 to play. But Frye had six of Arizona's next 13 points, and the Wildcats took a 69-58 lead when Rodgers scored on a goaltending call on Diogu with 9:46 left.
Diogu, a 90 percent free throw shooter who leads the nation in free throws (122) and attempts (140), was 6-of-11 from the line.
It was Diogu's 72nd game in double digits, covering his entire college career.