MATT HEISTAND/Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior forward Luke Walton drives to the hoop against a USC defender during last night's game in McKale Center. Walton finished the game with a triple-double, only the sixth in school history.

Arizona rips USC behind Walton's triple-double

One Southern California team down, one to go.

Behind the triple-double of junior forward Luke Walton, the Wildcats rolled to a 97-80 victory over conference-leading USC last night in McKale Center.

"It's the best we have played all year," Walton said. "We played a full 40 minutes and showed people what we are capable of. Tonight is the first night we put it all together."

No. 15 Arizona (12-4 overall, 5-2 Pacific 10 Conference) wasted no time showing the country what it was capable of, jumping out to a 10-0 lead in the first 2:30.

Head coach Lute Olson said the strong start was important.

"That is the best we have looked all year long," Olson said. "We took care of the ball. It was great the way we came out. The crowd was a huge factor."

With the score 16-7, Walton took over, scoring eight of his career-high 27 points and dishing out two assists on a 16-0 run that gave Arizona a 32-7 advantage with 7:13 remaining in the first half.

MATT HEISTAND/Arizona Daily Wildcat Freshman forward Isaiah Fox surveys the court during last night's game against USC in McKale Center. The Wildcats beat the Pac-10's leader 97-80.

"Luke Walton had a great performance," Olson said. "There is no question Luke will find people and get open."

The Wildcats took a 51-26 lead into the locker room and bumped the lead to as much as 31 early in the second half.

No. 18 USC (13-3 overall, 5-1 Pac-10) would not get closer than 21 until 2:43 left in the game.

Arizona's intensity and defensive tenacity can be credited to motivating words from USC's senior forward Sam Clancy, said Walton.

Prior to the matchup, Clancy questioned the youthful Wildcats.

"This year, (Arizona) is a young team and doesn't have tradition like the great teams of the past," Clancy said. "I don't see the same urgency. The team is not the same. They don't have four NBA players; they all left."

Clancy's statement lit the fire under the Wildcats, Walton said.

"Coach said no one has disrespected (us) like that before," Walton said. "(Olson) motivated us. If you come to McKale, you better bring your 'A' game."

Clancy finished with a game-high 30 points and 11 rebounds, 16 of those points coming in the second half when the game was well in hand.

Junior guard Jason Gardner - the lone starter from the UA team that lost four starters to the NBA draft - was held to just eight points. However, he tallied seven assists.

Five Wildcats reached double figures, including freshman guard Will Bynum, who scored a career-high 17.

Arizona will now try to complete the home sweep of the Southern California schools tomorrow against UCLA.

The No. 11 Bruins (13-3 overall, 5-1 Pac-10) escaped with an 82-79 victory over the Sun Devils in Tempe last night.

While the close game might have taken a bit of the bite from the Bruin team that beat Kansas last week, UCLA has won 11 of its last 12 games. The lone conference defeat was to cross-town rival USC.

Junior guard Jason Kapono leads the Bruins with 18.1 points per game, but it has been the supporting cast that has come up big for UCLA.

Junior forward Matt Barnes torched former No. 1 Kansas for 27 points in UCLA's upset of the Jayhawks last week.

Arizona's showdown with UCLA is slated for noon tomorrow in McKale Center.