TUCSON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Luke Walton scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds before aggravating an ankle injury Monday night as fourth-ranked Arizona defeated Boston University, 85-71, in the championship game of the Fiesta Bowl Classic.
Walton scored 11 points in the first 4:16 of the second half to extend Arizona's lead to 57-49. But he sprained his right ankle and headed to the locker room with 9:44 left.
A 3-pointer by Salim Stoudamire with 5:32 to play opened a 79-64 cushion and Boston University got no closer than 10 points thereafter. Stoudamire finished with 12 points and Jason Gardner added 11 for Arizona (7-1).
Billy Collins got the Terriers (5-6) off to a quick start, scoring nine points in the first 5:37 of the game as BU took an 11-9 lead. But the Wildcats went to the locker room with a 44-38 advantage.
Collins ended up with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Arizona has won 35 of 36 games in the tournament's 18-year history, with the only loss coming against Mississippi State in 2000.
