Arizona jumped out to an 18-4 start en route to a 69-57 win over Colorado that extended the Wildcats’ unbeaten start again and tied another school record.
The win moved Arizona to 19-0 overall and 6-0 in Pac-12 play, tying a school record for most consecutive wins.
The Wildcats last won 19 straight between Dec. 28, 1997 and Feb. 28, 1998, when they were the defending national champions, and they also did it between Dec. 28, 1992 and Feb. 27, 1993.
Arizona will attempt to break the record on Sunday against Utah.
Colorado dropped to 15-5 and 4-3, but the Buffaloes actually kept the game from getting completely out of hand after their early struggles.
Arizona led by as many as 20 points, with 15:13 left in the game, but Colorado improved its offensive efficiency after halftime to keep it relatively close.
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Nick Johnson led UA in scoring with 18 points while Brandon Ashley had 15. Aaron Gordon had 12 points. Kaleb Tarczewski had seven points and eight rebounds in a typically balanced attack.
For Colorado, Xavier Johnson had a season-high 21 points while center Josh Scott added 13 points and nine rebounds. It was the first time Johnson had led the Buffs in scoring.
Early in the game, the Wildcats held Colorado to just 1-for-9 shooting while building the early 14-point lead, getting seven of their 18 points during the stretch from Brandon Ashley.
Ashley, who finished the first-half with nine points, had a three-pointer and a hook shot under the basket to help Arizona’s early offense. Ashley finished with 15 points.
Johnson led the Wildcats in first-half scoring with 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting.
Colorado pulled within 20-14 with 9:33 left in the half but then Arizona went on another run, 12-2, and led comfortably the rest of the half.
Colorado was playing its third game without injured leader Spencer Dinwiddie and its first without Dinwiddie even on the bench. Dinwiddie underwent surgery for a torn left ACL on Monday.
