The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

DeAndre Ayton recorded his 13th double double of the season and led the No.14 Arizona Wildcats to their third consecutive win in the PAC-12.

Ayton finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks in a 79-58 win over the California Golden Bears on the road at Haas Pavillion in Berkley, California.

The freshman phenom was dominant on the offensive end of the floor and shot 9-11 from the field.

"DeAndre Ayton is the difference. He's tremendous; he does it every night and he's only improving as the season goes so I thought his performance tonight was outstanding as well," Wildcats head coach Sean Miller said.

"He's one of those players, unfortunately, you'll notice when he's no longer there. While he's there the game is harder for the other team. While he's there he makes his teammates better. I've never changed my assessment of him - he's very smart and the longer that our season grows I think everyone can see what I mean."

Ayton's 13 double doubles ranks fifth in the NCAA and second among freshmen. "He's very composed, he does a lot of things on a basketball court that a guy that young and big do. Usually they're one or two-dimensional and as their career grows they get those other attributes, his starting point is so high. His skill level, his ability to shoot and he's a very good free throw shooter as well," Miller said.

Unranked Cal stayed close with Arizona until the Wildcats made a string of six over the course of a seven-minute stretch to take control for good. Cal got within single digits - down by nine - for all of 17 seconds in the second half. The Wildcats went four possessions until getting their first shot off while committing three quick turnovers and falling behind 6-0. They had turnovers on six of their initial nine possessions and 21 overall but still ended up shooting 70 per cent in the opening half.

"For a team like ours, every once in a while it seems like we have some anxiety at the beginning of the game, hopefully we can get over that hurdle but we also did some good things and winning a road game in a conference like ours, every one is precious," Miller said. "Sometimes it's going to be ugly, sometimes you will play really well and not win so the fact we were able to get a win."

Ayton is averaging 20.2 points and 11.3 rebounds per game this season.