Arizona vs. SDSU: Score and Twitter Reaction from 2014 Maui Invitational

 With a championship on the line in the Maui Invitational, No. 3 Arizona proved to be too much for No. 15 San Diego State, 61-59, at the Lahaina Civic Center. The title for Arizona marks its first since 2000 and became the sixth team to win multiple Maui Invitational championships.

ESPN Stats & Info provides a look at the final from Maui:

Freshman Stanley Johnson led the Wildcats, finishing with 18 points and nine rebounds while Rondae Hollis-Jefferson added another 14 points off the bench. Arizona also applied pressure on the defensive end with seven steals and seven blocks—three of which came from Hollis-Jefferson.

Arizona coach Sean Miller spoke about winning the title, via the ESPN broadcast.

"It means a lot," Miller said. "We talk a lot to each team that we have about not riding the coattails of the teams of the past. ... When you come to a tournament where you're challenged for three games in three days at this level it takes a little bit of everything. I couldn't be prouder."

Johnson struggled at times, going 4-for-14 from the floor, but contributed in a multitude of ways for the Wildcats. Anthony Gimino of Fox Sports Arizona offered his take on the freshman's potential moving forward:

SDSU proved to be one of the toughest tests for the Wildcats on the young season after Kansas State pushed them in the semifinals. The Aztecs were paced by Trey Kell yet again, who finished the night with 14 points on 4-of-10 from the field.

Kell was clutch down the stretch, helping close the lead with a four-point play on a foul from behind the arc, but it wouldn't be enough. Jeff Eisenberg of Yahoo Sports noted how much the Aztecs were struggling prior to that play:

Ultimately, the game came down to struggles from the free-throw line and an inability to close from San Diego State. The Aztecs went 13-for-24 from the line and couldn't quite close the window of opportunity for Arizona as it continued to hit free throws.

Both teams come away from Maui battle tested, but it's Arizona that remains undefeated.

The Wildcats still have several tough non-conference matchups ahead, including both Gonzaga and Michigan in December. Looking to win a second consecutive Pac-12 regular season title, the Wildcats look like a dangerous team.

Despite the loss, Steve Fisher's team still looks like a competitor in the Mountain West Conference. After already knocking off a Top 25 opponent in Utah earlier this season, the Aztecs will likely have the resume to make some noise in the NCAA Tournament.

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