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Wildcats defeat Washington: 106 - 97

The Pac-10’s top dogs paid a visit Thursday night to Tucson, and a capacity crowd at McKale Center knew that the home team from the University of Arizona needed a victory to remain relevant in the conference race.

Backed by a sustained and inspirational roar of roof-raising cacophony from the raucous gathering of 14,434, the host Wildcats just might have turned around their season, defeating the first-place Washington Huskies 106-97.

“We competed about as hard tonight for 40 minutes as I’ve seen us from the opening tip to the very end,” Arizona interim head coach Russ Pennell said.

“It was a huge win for us,” said junior wing Chase Budinger, who finished with 25 points and eight rebounds for the Wildcats (13-8 overall, 3-5 Pac-10). “They are the first-place team in the Pac-10, and we’re pretty far down there (the Wildcats were in ninth place heading into the game). It’s a huge win for us. It gives us a lot of confidence, and it shows that we can play with anybody in the Pac-10.”

The Arizona victory took shape during a four-minute span early in the second half when the UA increased a two-point lead to 16. The unexpected surge took place after Jordan Hill, the Wildcats’ standout junior center, was whistled for his fourth personal foul with 14:40 remaining.

Although Hill would not return to the game until the 7:08 mark, the Wildcats did not panic. Instead, they embarked upon an 18-4 scoring run, stretching their advantage from 51-49 with 14:40 left to 69-53 with 10:43 remaining.

During the onslaught, Arizona scored on an emphatic two-handed slam by Budinger, a three-point play on a jump shot and free throw by Kyle Fogg, a three-point field goal from beyond the top of the key by Nic Wise, a triple by Budinger from just right of the key off an assist from Wise, a 4-foot runner by Budinger on a baseline drive, a jumper by Fogg and a three-pointer from the left baseline by Jamelle Horne.

“I think everyone kind of was like, ‘We’re fine; Jordan’s out, but we’re good,’” Pennell said. “I thought everyone responded.”

The Wildcats would go on to add 37 more points over the final 9:47, and they would need almost every one of them to hold off a late Washington rally. While the Huskies were converting an array of jumpers and layups in the closing minutes, Arizona was shooting a staggering number of free throws.

The Wildcats made 32 of 37 foul shots in the last 9:47. They were a perfect 16 of 16 from the line over the final 2:50.

Hill fouled out with 3:23 left, but Arizona remained unfazed.

“Once Jordan went out, I think Nic and I kind of knew that we had to step up for the team,” Budinger said. “And that’s what we did. We were aggressive out there. We just started attacking the rim and getting to the free-throw line.”

For the game, the Wildcats swished 41 of 51 free throws, establishing new records for the 36-year-old McKale Center in foul shots made and attempted.

Washington closed to within 91-88 on a three-point play by Venoy Overton with 1:51 left, but Arizona sophomore Zane Johnson answered 10 seconds later with a triple from the right wing.

“When he locked and loaded for that shot, I almost had a heart attack,” Budinger said about Johnson’s three-ball. “My eyes just flared up and I was like, ‘Uh, oh.’ Then it hit the bottom of the net, and I think that really changed things because they were kind of on a run then. Zane just stepped up and made a huge shot for us.”

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The Wildcats scored 69 points in the second half after trailing 38-37 at the intermission.

Wise led the UA with 29 points and eight assists in the game. The junior point guard made all 14 of his free-throw attempts.

Four Arizona players scored in double figures. In addition to Wise’s 29 points and Budinger’s 25, the Wildcats got 18 points (along with nine rebounds) from Hill and 16 points from Fogg, a freshman who went 4 of 4 from the field (including one three-pointer) and 7 of 7 from the line.

“He just keeps getting better and better,” Pennell said about Fogg, a 6-foot-2 and 175-pound guard. “I don’t think he plays like a freshman.”

The Wildcats also received a valuable contribution from senior reserve Fendi Onobun, a power forward who scored five points and played solid defense in 13 minutes of action.

Senior power forward Jon Brockman led Washington with 27 points and 16 rebounds. The Huskies (15-5, 6-2) also got 23 points from senior guard Justin Dentmon, who nailed seven three-pointers, and 15 points from freshman guard Isaiah Thomas.

By Tom Kessler
DFN Sports Staff Writer