Photos: No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
With a No. 1 ranking on the line, the Arizona Wildcats played host to the UNLV Runnin' Rebels on Dec. 7 - and almost gave the game away by shooting 3 for 16 from three-point land and missing numerous short shots and layups down the stretch. But thanks to point guard T.J. McConnell, freshman Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and another good effort on the defensive side in the second half - Arizona was able to sneak away with one at McKale. Check out some of the moments of the game in our gallery.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona point guard T.J. McConnell takes the ball to the basket during the second half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) throws his hands in the air as he celebrates the win after the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona guard T.J. McConnell (4) draws the contact and the foul by UNLV forward Khem Birch (2) during the first half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
The Arizona starting five gather after a foul call during the second half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona guard T.J. McConnell (4) drives around UNLV forward Roscoe Smith (1) during the second half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona forward Aaron Gordon (11) drives to the basket during the second half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona guard T.J. McConnell (4) works between the defense of UNLV guard Kendall Smith (15) and UNLV forward Roscoe Smith (1) during the second half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona forward Brandon Ashley (21) puts up a shot over UNLV forward Roscoe Smith (1) during the second half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
A nosey T.J. McConnell (4) tries to pick UNLV guard Deville Smith's pocket during the second half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
UNLV guard Deville Smith (33) runs into the defense of Arizona forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23), right and Arizona forward Brandon Ashley (21) during the second half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
UNLV forward Roscoe Smith (1) grabs Arizona forward Aaron Gordon (11) by his shorts as they battle for a rebound during the second half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona forward Aaron Gordon (11) bends the rim as he throws down a thundering dunk during the second half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) dunks late during the second half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
A whited-out McKale Center watches the tip during the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona guard Nick Johnson (13) defends as UNLV guard Bryce Dejean-Jones (13) shoots during the second half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) snares a rebound away from UNLV forward Khem Birch (2) during the second half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona center Kaleb Tarczewski (35) defends as UNLV forward Khem Birch (2) works toward the basket during the second half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona head coach Sean Miller barks instructions to his team during the second half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona center Kaleb Tarczewski (35) screens UNLV guard Jelan Kendrick (22) during the first half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
UNLV forward Christian Wood (5) blocks the shot of Arizona center Kaleb Tarczewski (35) during the first half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) looks to put a shot up in front of UNLV guard Jelan Kendrick (22) during the first half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona center Kaleb Tarczewski (35) puts up a contested shot as UNLV forward Roscoe Smith (1) defends during the first half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) celebrates as he heads to the locker room after the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona guard Nick Johnson (13) scrambles for a posse ball with UNLV guard Kendall Smith (15) during the first half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona guard Nick Johnson (13) puts up a perimeter try over UNLV forward Khem Birch (2) during the first half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona guard Nick Johnson (13) celebrates a made three-pointer during the first half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona guard T.J. McConnell (4) drives ahead of UNLV guard Kendall Smith (15) during the first half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona guard T.J. McConnell (4) tries to sling a pass over UNLV guard Kendall Smith (15) during the first half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) tries to swat the ball from UNLV guard Jelan Kendrick (22) during the first half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) guards UNLV guard Bryce Dejean-Jones (13) during the first half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona head coach Sean Miller shouts out to his team during the first half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) draws a bit of contact as he guards UNLV guard Jelan Kendrick (22) during the first half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. The No. 2 Wildcats beat UNLV 63-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) blocks the shot of UNLV guard Bryce Dejean-Jones (13) as Arizona center Kaleb Tarczewski (35) defends in the middle during the first half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona center Kaleb Tarczewski (35) slams home an early dunk during the first half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona guard T.J. McConnell (4) looks for an outlet pass as he drives under the basket during the first half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) charges the lane ahead of UNLV guard Jelan Kendrick (22) during the first half of the UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Arizona guard Gabe York (1) defends as Texas Tech guard Jamal Williams, Jr. (23) passes during the second half of the Texas Tech vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. No. 2 Arizona dispatched Texas Tech 79-58.
No. 2 Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Students clad in white fill up the Zona Zoo section before today's "white-out" UNLV vs. University of Arizona men's college basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2013, at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz.
Arizona 63, UNLV 58
Nick Johnson defends UNLV guard Bryce Dejean-Jones as he takes a contested jumper late in the shot clock.
If the Arizona Wildcats gain the No. 1 ranking in the country as expected today, the gift won’t be just for them.
The Wildcats received 63 of 65 first-place votes in the AP media poll, and 30 of 32 first-place votes by the coaches.