The Wildcats earn first Final Four berth since 1997 with 87-81 victory against Illini

SAN ANTONIO - With less than two minutes in the game, the UA bench players sat together, their arms linked, swaying back and forth celebrating a win.

Little did they know how hard the game's final moments would be. The Wildcats nearly squandered a seven-point lead in the final 45 seconds only to prevail, 87-81, at the Alamodome.

"There have been so many ups and downs this season that I am not sure there is a team more deserving of this," said senior center Loren Woods.

"We keep using the word, 'Family' with the way that we have come together. But as sweet as this moment is, we have two more games until we can put the final icing on the cake."

Arizona players said they knew this game would come down to whichever team was tougher. But ultimately, it was mental toughness and not pure brute force that has the Wildcats making plans for a trip to Minneapolis.

As Illinois tried to outwrestle UA in the low post, the Illini's strength and physical presence actually ended up hindering them as the game wore on. Six Illinois players fouled out and 36 total UI personal fouls were committed, to which the Wildcats earned 56 trips to the charity stripe, a season-high.

Good thing Arizona can shoot free-throws. The Wildcats buried 43 of those attempts (80 percent), including 9 of 10 in the final minute.

The Illini made four three-pointers in the final 2:04 to cut an 11-point UA lead to just three points with 21 seconds remaining.