PHOENIX (AP) — Koa Peat scored 11 points, Tobe Awaka grabbed 15 rebounds and top-ranked Arizona smothered San Diego State for a 68-45 win Saturday night in the Naismith Hall of Fame Series.
The Wildcats (11-0) had a hard time getting their free-flowing offense going against the brutish Aztecs (6-4), relying on defense instead.
Arizona held San Diego State to 26% shooting from the floor and 1 of 14 from 3-point distance, turning a tight game into a runaway after halftime at the home of the NBA's Phoenix Suns.
The Wildcats are one of six remaining unbeaten teams following No. 3 Duke's loss to No. 19 Texas Tech.
Reese Dixon-Waters led San Diego State with eight points. Leading scorer BJ Davis had four on 1-of-12 shooting.
Arizona won each of its previous five games by at least 20 points, including blowouts over No. 16 Alabama and No. 21 Auburn.
The physical Aztecs made it much tougher on the Wildcats, turning nearly every possession into a wrestling match.
San Diego State held Arizona to one field goal over a 6 1/2-minute span and forced a string of turnovers while building a 19-11 lead.
The Wildcats got back in it with a little defense of their own, closing on an 8-0 run to lead 28-27 at halftime despite going 1 for 10 from behind the arc with 10 turnovers.
San Diego State went 8 for 29 from the floor in the first half, including 1 for 7 from 3.
Arizona locked in defensively even more to open the second half, holding the Aztecs to 3-of-18 shooting while stretching the lead to 47-34.
San Diego State shot 7 of 28 in the second half, missing all seven 3-pointers.
San Diego State hosts Whittier on Monday.
Arizona hosts Bethune-Cookman on Monday.
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San Diego State guard Elzie Harrington (3) looks to shoot between Arizona forward Koa Peat (10) and center Motiejus Krivas, front right, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
San Diego State guard BJ Davis (10) looks to shoot against Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (13) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green was ejected with 10:39 left in the first half of Saturday night's 119-116 win against Phoenix following consecutive technical fouls.
Green, who has a history of volatile behavior, received his first technical for shoving Collin Gillespie from behind moments after blocking his drive on the other end that started the heated back-and-forth. Green's second technical came after continued arguing, as he carried on despite efforts by teammates, Warriors officials and security to push him away.
Warriors' coach Steve Kerr also received a technical for protesting the ejection, which came two days after Dillon Brooks was called for a flagrant 1 foul with 38.3 seconds left in Thursday's matchup at Phoenix when he hit Stephen Curry in the stomach after a 3-point attempt.
“I thought it was weak, he was yelling at the refs so he definitely deserved one but then he’s walking to the bench and he yells something and second technical,” Kerr said. “We just saw a guy on their team literally punch Steph in the stomach the other night, premeditated, punches him in the stomach no ejection for that. And then two nights later the refs got upset with some words from Draymond. I totally disagree and that’s why I got my tech because I was furious that they booted him out that easily.”
This game quickly became the second straight testy meeting between the teams after Phoenix escaped with a 99-98 win at home Thursday.
Brooks was booed at every chance by the fans in Chase Center two nights later, then Warriors forward Trayce Jackson-Davis made a rough offensive foul on Brooks late in the second quarter that sent the Suns star hard to the floor.
Brooks made his initial five field goals and scored 14 points by halftime as Phoenix led 67-64 at the break. He was whistled for his third foul in the final second of the half.
Kerr referenced the flagrant by Brooks that broke Gary Payton II's elbow in the 2022 playoffs.
“How can you not be upset, this is a guy who broke Gary’s elbow in the playoffs clotheslining him with one of the dirtiest plays I’ve ever seen,” Kerr said. “It’s not like there’s not a track record there. It's right there, they look at it, I don't know what the point of replay is if you're not going to kick a guy out for literally punching somebody.
"That's bizarre to me that he was not first of all ejected from that game and then suspended or fined, nothing. So apparently you're now allowed, this is my take, you're now allowed to premeditate a punch of a shooter who's left defenseless. You can now take a swing at him and know you're just going to get a flagrant 1. I don't know maybe we'll do that. Probably not.”
When Payton was asked about Brooks' physical style, he just offered: “It's just who he is."
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) is ejected in the second quarter during an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, in San Francisco, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) is ejected in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in San Francisco. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr reacts after Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) is ejected in the second quarter of an NBA game against the Phoenix Suns, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in San Francisco. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) is ejected in the first half during an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns in San Francisco, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) is ejected in the first half during an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns in San Francisco, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) gestures toward a referee after being ejected as Moses Moody (4) restrains him during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns in San Francisco, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker, left, gets off a pass against Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green during the second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) and Warriors forward Draymond Green react as time expires during the second half of an NBA basketball game loss to the Phoenix Suns Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, left, drives past Phoenix Suns forward Oso Ighodaro (11) to score during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
