Mark Lyons is making the most of his shot at redemption in the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.
Lyons’ trip to Hawaii with Xavier a year ago was less than satisfying, as the nationally ranked Musketeers lost their first two games in the tournament.
He made a return appearance with Arizona this season and helped the fourth-ranked Wildcats reach the tournament championship game in a dominant 69-50 win over Miami in Sunday’s semifinal game at the Stan Sheriff Center.
"Last year we came out here it is was disappointing for our team," Lyons said. "I just wanted to come back and make a statement.
"That’s one of the reasons I chose Arizona. … I wanted to come back here and try to win the whole thing."
Lyons will have that chance on Tuesday after scoring a team-high 19 points on 7-for-12 shooting, including 3-for-7 from 3-point range, and dishing out four assists against the Hurricanes.
Arizona (11-0) plays No. 18 San Diego State (11-1) for the DHC championship on Tuesday in the tournament’s first matchup of ranked teams. The Christmas Day finale is set for 4:30 p.m.
San Diego State held off Indiana State 62-55 in Sunday’s first semifinal. Miami (8-2) faces Indiana State for third place Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.
Arizona head coach Sean Miller earned his 200th career win and will also be seeking a title in his second championship game in the islands.
He was a guard for Pittsburgh when the Panthers lost to Hawaii in the 1990 Rainbow Classic final.
Kenny Kadji led the Hurricanes with 19 points. But with Miami center Reggie Johnson (12.6 points, 10.1 rebounds per game) sidelined with a thumb injury, Arizona built a 46-20 rebounding advantage and held Miami to its lowest point total of the season.
"It was the kind of game where we had to really be physically strong and tough, and I think we’ve improved dramatically in that area," Miami coach Jim Larranaga said. "Obviously tonight, they were able to manhandle us on the backboards."
Arizona guard Nick Johnson complemented Lyons with 12 points, and Kevin Parom added 11 points and eight rebounds. Center Kaleb Tarczewski finished with eight points and 13 boards.
Miller credited Lyons and Johnson for sparking the Wildcats’ defensive performance in their matchup with Miami’s Shane Larkin and Durand Scott, who combined for 25 points but were held in check for much of the game.
"I thought Nick Johnson and Mark Lyons really embraced the challenge of playing against a backcourt as heralded, and rightfully so, as Miami’s," Miller said. "From an offensive perspective and a defensive perspective, our two guys were really ready.
"It was one of our better performances of the year and it came at the expense of a good team that was missing one of their good players, but they’re still very good."
Miller said Lyons "set the tone from the outset," which he demonstrated in a pivotal 14-2 run in the first half.
He drilled a 3-pointer and found open teammates for three more shots from long range during the run.
"Coach wants me to be a playmaker, so when I get in the paint I have to make the right decisions," Lyons said. "If nobody’s guarding me, I have to score. If people collapse, I have to find people to make shots."
Lyons did the job himself with drives to the basket in the second half as the Wildcats continued to pull away from the Hurricanes.
No. 18 San Diego State 62, Indiana State 55
After the Sycamores (6-4) claimed a three-point lead midway through the second half, the Aztecs (11-1) rallied to win their 11th straight game and advance to the tournament championship game.
The key play happened when Aztecs guard Chase Tapley was intentionally fouled by Jake Odum on a breakaway with 4:44 left. Tapley made both free throws, then hit a 3-pointer from the corner for a five-point possession and a 51-44 lead, and SDSU maintained a narrow lead from there.
"I think every trip down the floor seemed like a big possession," SDSU coach Steve Fisher said. "Both teams came up empty at times … you gotta find a way to make plays, Chase got just enough in front of him where (the official) called the intentional."
Guard Jamaal Franklin scored 19 points and grabbed a DHC-record 15 rebounds in the win. He surpassed former UH forward Petras Balocka’s 13 boards in 2009.
Ole Miss 85, San Francisco 78
The Rebels (9-2) came back from a 13-point deficit in the first half and got a 23-point, 13-rebound double-double from Murphy Holloway in their consolation semifinal victory over the Dons (5-6).
USF dropped its fifth straight game after a five-game winning streak.
Ole Miss connected on nine of 19 3-point attempts.
