Citizen Staff Writer
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
STEVE RIVERA
srivera@tucsoncitizen.com
CORVALLIS, Ore. – In the first half, Arizona junior Chase Budinger seemed to be the only player looking to score for the Cats.
He had eight of the team’s 21 points as UA trailed by two at the half.
In the second half, he was even more aggressive as the Wildcats beat Oregon State 56-53 to move to 5-5 in Pac-10 play.
Budinger finished with a game-high 17 points.
“During halftime,” he said, “I tried to get into the guys, trying to take that leadership role. I came out in the second half playing as hard as (I could), being aggressive and attacking the rim.
“I think that jump-started the rest of the guys. Once they saw me doing that, they jumped on board.”
Late-game work
UA had an 11-point lead with 8:45 left but had to hold on for the victory.
Was there a sense of “Here we go again” with UA struggling at the end? Arizona junior Nic Wise said there was a little of that, but in recent practices UA has worked on late-game decisions.
“In the past we couldn’t finish games for nothing but we’re getting better at it,” he said. “We’re gaining more and more confidence.”
Do not adjust your TV
There was no need to adjust television sets when it came to viewing the UA sidelines.
All the coaches looked a bit scruffy, sporting more than a 5 o’clock shadow.
It looked like they hadn’t shaved in a day or so. Why the look?
“If I told you,” interim head coach Russ Pennell said, “I’d have to kill you.”
No secret service
The voice of the Wildcats, Brian Jefferies, joked before the game that it would be funny to see UA walk-on D.J. Shumpert come out in a suit and tie and with security around him.
Why? Because he looks a little like President Obama. His teammates call him “Obama” for that reason.
Oregon State coach Craig Robinson is Obama’s brother-in-law.
Little bench help
Pennell went to the bench infrequently, playing only Jamelle Horne, Brendon Lavender and Fendi Onobun.
Lavender and Onobun each played two minutes. Horne was on the court for 28 minutes.
“We didn’t play as many guys (because) the pace was kind of walk it up and down,” Pennell said.