TUCSON, Ariz. — Derrick Williams had 14 points despite early foul trouble and got plenty of help in what may have been his final home game, lifting No. 18 Arizona to a 90-82 win over Oregon and the outright Pac-10 title on Saturday.
Arizona (25-6, 14-4) already had earned a share of the title for the first time in six years and the McKale Center was juiced in anticipation of nets coming down.
The Wildcats put on quite a shooting show, hitting 11 3-pointers and shooting 56 percent overall to close out their first undefeated home season (17-0) in 12 years. Kyle Fogg led Arizona with 20 points and Solomon Hill added 14.
Oregon (14-16, 7-11) put up a fight, trimming a 17-point deficit early in the second half to six with 5½ minutes left behind Joevan Catron (28 points). The Ducks never made it all back, though, ending the regular season with four-game losing streak.
The Wildcats' 12th Pac-10 title completes an impressive turnaround.
Once of the nation's best programs, Arizona had fallen on hard times the past few years, starting with Lute Olson's leave of absence and retirement in consecutive seasons.
Sean Miller gave the Wildcats stability after arriving from a successful stint at Xavier and, after a foundation-setting 2009-10 season, re-established Arizona's standing among the elite. He did it behind Williams, a deep and talented supporting cast, and a confidence that absorbed a slight dent with a late-season slide a year ago.
Williams was the key, developing into one of the nation's best players during his sophomore season, a 6-foot-8 bundle of power and grace who can shoot inside or out, right-handed or left. Projected as an NBA lottery pick, he faces a decision whether to stick around in the desert or give the pros a try.
Just not yet.
There's still some basketball left, starting with next week's Pac-10 tournament, where the Wildcats will be the No. 1 seed, and a likely return to the NCAA tournament after their 25-year run ended last season.
If this was Williams' final home game, it'll be remembered for the help he got.
With a piece of black tape replacing the bulky bandage on his injured right pinky, Williams took just two shots in the first half and scored two points while battling foul trouble.
The rest of the Wildcats made up for it, with 10 players scoring in the first half, nine getting at least one assist and 3-pointers flying in from seemingly everywhere.
Fogg got it started with three straight 3s during an opening 13-4 and Kevin Parrom jumped off the bench to drain two of his own. Arizona ended up hitting seven in the first half and shot 16 of 27 overall to build a 41-32 lead.
Catron had his inside-outside game going while scoring 12 points in the first half and the Ducks rallied after an early run put Arizona up 53-36 in the second. Oregon closed to 70-64 when Catron hit a 3-pointer, but couldn't get any closer.
Williams had the punctuating moment with a soaring tomahawk dunk along the baseline and left to an ovation with about a minute left after hearing chants of "One more year!" throughout the game.