LAS VEGAS — Willie Tuitama threw for 325 yards and two touchdowns last night as Arizona won its first bowl game in 10 years, 31-21 over No. 17 BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl.

The Wildcats stifled BYU quarterback Max Hall throughout the game, forcing him to scramble often, lose a fumble and throw an interception.

"We had to go with physical tackling — we had eight guys in the box at all times," linebacker Xavier Kelley said. "We had our ups and downs, and this is tremendous. It's amazing, amazing."

Arizona celebrated its first bowl win since 1998, when it finished 12-1 and beat Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl.

"This was five years in the making. It all came together in the last month of the season," Arizona coach Mike Stoops said. "I couldn't be more proud of these seniors who brought Arizona back."

The Wildcats (8-5) kept the ball in the air most of the game. Tuitama threw a 71-yard pass to Terrell Turner that set up the first score, a 37-yard touchdown to Delashaun Dean that gave the Wildcats the lead for good, and a 24-yard strike to Chris Gronkowski that sent Cougars fans toward the exits.

Arizona's career passing leader added a 6-yard touchdown run in the third quarter for a 31-14 lead.

BYU (10-3) lost its bid to win three straight Las Vegas Bowls in four consecutive trips, ending a sloppy night with three missed field goals and 10 penalties for 76 yards.

"It was a good season, but not a great season," Hall said. "We just hit a lull as a team."

BYU 0 7 7 7—21

ARIZONA 7 3 14 7—31

FIRST QUARTER

Ari—Grigsby 1 run (Bondzio kick), 6:23.

SECOND QUARTER

Ari—FG Bondzio 31, 9:21.

BYU—H.Unga 1 run (Payne kick), 6:50.

THIRD QUARTER

BYU—George 1 pass from Hall (Payne kick), 11:21.

Ari—Dean 37 pass from Tuitama (Bondzio kick), 7:07.

Ari—C.Gronkowski 24 pass from Tuitama (Bondzio kick), :25.

FOURTH QUARTER

Ari—Tuitama 6 run (Bondzio kick), 6:09.

BYU—Hall 1 run (Payne kick), 3:38.

A—40,047.

               BYU Ari

First downs 22 20

Rushes-yards 32-116 28-91

Passing 328 325

Comp-Att-Int 30-46-1 24-35-0

Return Yards 2 33

Punts-Avg. 3-37.0 3-32.3

Fumbles-Lost 4-2 4-2

Penalties-Yards 10-76 7-54

Time of Possession 32:48 27:12

RUSHING—BYU, H.Unga 17-71, Kariya 3-24, Hall 10-16, Collie 1-3, Vakapuna 1-2. Arizona, Grigsby 20-87, Thomas 3-12, team 2-(minus 4), Tuitama 3-(minus 4).

PASSING—BYU, Hall 30-46-1-328. Arizona, Tuitama 24-35-0-325.

RECEIVING—BYU, Collie 11-119, Reed 9-117, Pitta 5-58, George 2-15, Kariya 1-8, H.Unga 1-6, Vakapuna 1-5. Arizona, Dean 7-88, T.Turner 4-111, Thomas 4-29, R.Gronkowski 4-27, C.Gronkowski 2-43, Antolin 2-21, Criner 1-6.