TEMPE, Ariz., Feb. 22 (UPI) -- Luke Walton and Channing Frye scored 23 points apiece Saturday night as the top-ranked Arizona Wildcats rolled to a 92-72 Pac-10 Conference victory over Arizona State.
It was a season high for Walton, who also grabbed 10 rebounds. Frye was coming off a career-high 25 points in Arizona's last outing against Southern California.
Rick Anderson contributed 19 points for the Wildcats (21-2, 13-1 Pac-10), who have won 17 of their last 18 games and maintained a 1 1/2-game lead over Stanford in the conference.
Hosting a No. 1 team for the first time in school history, Arizona State (17-8, 9-5) battled Arizona on even terms for most of the first half, tying the contest, 39-39, on Curtis Millage's two fouls 2:38 before intermission.
But the Wildcats broke it open with one of their patented runs that extended into the second half.
Arizona ended the first half with a 12-4 spurt to open a 51-43 lead at the intermission, then started the second half with a 12-1 burst. Jason Gardner's basket made it 63-44 with 14:28 remaining.
Tommy Smith scored 20 points and Ike Diogu added 17 and 11 rebounds for the Sun Devils.
