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Save your tie-breaker scenarios: Arizona left the Huntsman Center as undisputed Pac-12 champions on Saturday night.

The Wildcats didn't play with the brutality throughout that they displayed in Tucson — getting beat on the boards in the first half before finding overdrive in the second — nor the efficiency, shooting just 17-of-51 from the field.

But on a night when some things didn't go their way, it was enough to beat the nation's No. 13 team in front of a particularly raucous audience at the sold-out Huntsman Center.

"This is one of the best crowds I've played in front of since I've been in college," said senior point guard T.J. McConnell, who had seven points and five assists.

Arizona missed its first 10 shots to start the second half but ended on an 8-0 run over the last two minutes.

"We stayed with it," said head coach Sean Miller. "… To be able to win in this type of atmosphere, in this game, against a team that's as good as Utah, however you do it, it makes you feel good."

The two teams took turns holding the lead 14 times, with Utah holding a six-point advantage after a Brandon Taylor 3-pointer had the Huntsman crowd in full frenzy.

The Wildcats were undeterred, as Gabe York answered with a 3-pointer and a Rondae Hollis-Jefferson free-throw put Arizona ahead with a little more than six minutes to play.

"Our guys never really broke," Miller said. "… That was a crucial time for us, and we really responded."

Center Kaleb Tarczewski continued his outstanding play of late, finishing 3-of-4 for 13 points to lead all Wildcats and grabbing six rebounds.

Forward Stanley Johnson finished just 3-of-19, but he snagged eight offensive rebounds, as well as a block and two steals.

And York made the critical play — a tip-in of his own missed free throw — that ultimately sank the hopes of the host Utes.

York said he was pleased that they were able to win without playing their best basketball, but the preparation continues.

They're not done with Utah yet, necessarily.

"We most likely will see them in the Pac-12 tournament."

mpiper@sltrib.com

Twitter: @matthew_piper