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Arizona Wildcats @ California Golden Bears Basketball Recap

Arizona 107, California 105 (3 OT)

The 21st-ranked Arizona Wildcats needed an additional 15 minutes of game time to dispatch the improving California Golden Bears in Pacific 10 Conference action from Haas Pavilion in Berkeley, California. The win kept the Wildcats’ first place lead in the conference at a game and a half, and improved their Pac-10 record to 9-2. The tough-loss dropped head coach Mike Montgomery's Cal squad to 6-5 in the conference.

This game will be remembered as the Lamont Jones coming-out party. Jones seemingly extended the game on his own merits time and time again. With the Wildcats trailing by three points in the final moments of regulation time, Jones came through with a game-tying old-school three-point play. Several minutes later, with Arizona again trailing by three points, this time in the second overtime, Jones came through with another three-point play. This one wasn’t an and-one, but a shot from long distance. Jones then provided a go-ahead layup with just over a minute remaining in the third extra stanza. Jones finished with a career high 27 points and head coach Sean Miller's Wildcats extended their winning streak to five games in row. The Cats are now the winners of eight of their last nine.

It was a heartbreaking defeat for the surging California program. The winners of their previous four games, the Bears had a great chance to score their signature victory of the season and jump into immediate contention for a regular season Pac-10 title. What they must settle for is yet another step backwards as they try to defend their 2010 Pac-10 championship. The Bears outperformed the Wildcats in getting to the free-throw line and produced standout performances from Harper Kamp, Allen Crabbe, and Jorge Gutierrez. Kamp had 33 points, including seven in the second overtime, to lead the Bears. Crabbe and Allen added 27 and 25 points apiece.

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While it was the clutch play of Jones which will get all the attention, Arizona can also look at Keith Parrom, Jordin Mayes, and Jamelle Horne, who each hit three 3-pointers apiece. The Wildcats connected on an astounding 14 shots beyond the arc on the evening. A total of 10 players scored for Arizona while three players fouled out of the contest, including leading scorer Derrick Williams, who left the game after compiling 12 points and 18 rebounds. In the end, a back-and-forth game which saw 17 lead changes and 14 ties was home to a special performance from the always vocal sophomore from Harlem. With Jones showing a side for the dramatic, the Wildcats found yet another way to win a ballgame, this time in a shootout. Arizona is now 20-4 on the season and is beginning to look like the class of the Pac-10. This 2011 team is seemingly raising the hopes of Wildcat fans everywhere that this team may invoke the aura of other past Wildcat greats.

By Zach Bloxham
DFN Sports Staff Writer