Arizona-Oregon State game blog: Beavers hold on for victory
by Anthony Gimino on Jan. 02, 2011, under SportsOregon State’s Calvin Haynes hits four consecutive free throws in the final seconds as the Beavers win 76-75 to beat Arizona for the third consecutive time.
That still just doesn’t sound right.
Sean Miller is 0-3 against Beavers coach Craig Robinson.
Derrick Williams hit a 3-pointer in the final second for the final margin, but Arizona’s shooting was woeful all night. Arizona was 13 of 24 from the free throw line and 6 of 20 from 3-point range.
Sometimes, that happens. Arizona shoots a healthy percentage from both areas. But it’s not as if the Wildcats were unlucky or a victim of percentages.
When Williams and starting power forward Jesse Perry combine for a mere four rebounds … and when the Wildcats commit 19 turnovers for the second consecutive game … when starting point guard MoMo Jones commits five turnovers … well, let’s just say there is plenty of blame to go around.
On the postgame radio show, Brian Jeffries and Matt Muehlebach decided to not give a Player of the Game award to any of the Wildcats.
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Arizona gets the game tied again in the final minute, but Joe Burton flips in a shot in the lane (Kevin Parrom flopped on some contact, but there were was no call).
On the critical ensuing possession, MoMo Jones, who had success driving to the hoop in the second half launched about an 18-footer that missed — not the highest percentage shot for Arizona.
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Jared Cunningham again, with a drive and a foul for a 69-66 lead with 1:38 to go. MoMo Jones had just tied the game on a drive.
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As we’ve seen on replay several times, that one-handed by Jared Cunningham off a missed shot was pretty spectacular.
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Sophomore post Joe Burton has been key for Oregon State off the bench, and, judging by Arizona’s defense, the Wildcats must be allergic to him. He has two quick baskets as Oregon State leads 64-62 with 3:25 to go.
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Jared Cunningham misses from the line, ending his streak of makes at 34, tied for the school record. MoMo Jones being aggressive on both ends of the court for the Cats — sometimes that’s good, sometimes that’s bad — and he makes a pair from the free throw line as Arizona pulls within 60-57.
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Little poise for Arizona down the stretch, with Kevin Parrom throwing the ball away right before the media timeout. Oregon State leads 59-53 with 5:59 to go. The Cats are 4 of 15 from 3-point range.
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MoMo Jones out of control on offense and then going for the steal, fouling Jared Cunnigham, who has now made 34 consecutive free throws. OSU leads 55-51 with under seven minutes left.
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Aggressive drive into the zone for MoMo Jones, who makes up a left-handed shot that falls for a 51-51 tie for 7:51 to play. Looks like we’re headed to a good finish.
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Credit to Jamelle Horne for a big-time offense rebound that results in two points for MoMo Jones. Otherwise, just not enough shots going down for the Cats.
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Jesse Perry now 1 of 4 from the free throw line.
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Memo to Kyle Fogg: Don’t leave your feet on defense.
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Who put the hex on Derrick Williams? He splits two free throws, but is just 3 of 10 from the line tonight.
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Kevin Parrom nails a 3-pointer and later makes two free throws to twice tie the game, but Oregon State is back ahead 43-41 with 11:30 to play. Can Parrom play point guard?
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Arizona is 3 of 12 from the free throw line tonight. Sean Miller might not have missed that many in a season when he was playing at Pitt.
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Derrick Williams misses another free throw after the first media timeout of the second half. Arizona trails 38-35, and Williams is a shocking 2 of 8 from the line. He entered the game making 81.7 percent of his free throw attempts.
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Arizona gets the ball into the paint in two consecutive possessions … and scores twice. I think the Cats might be on to something here (end sarcasm).
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Arizona still cold from the outside and is taking too many quick 3-pointers. There’s no reason why Derrick Williams shouldn’t be getting at least one touch on every possession.
Meanwhile, Oregon State comes out hot to begin the second half, taking a 36-29 lead with 18:08 left.
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Oregon State scores first in the second half and takes its first lead of the game. Derrick Williams puts in a free throw to get within 30-29; he’ll need to be active inside the zone and get to the line often in the second half.
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Talk about balance: Arizona has had six players miss 3-point shots.
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Jesse Perry is 0 of 2 from the free throw line and doesn’t look that comfortable there. I was surprised to see he entered the game making 70.5 percent (31 of 44).
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First half: 21 turnovers — 11 by Oregon State.
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Horrible final minute of the half for Arizona, which turns the ball over for two points the other way … and then MoMo Jones holds the ball too long near the half-court line and doesn’t get the Cats into their offense as the clock ticks away on the final possession.
Ultimately, Arizona doesn’t even get off a shot.
The game is tied at 28, as Oregon State tries to win its third consecutive game against the Wildcats.
That doesn’t sound right, does it?
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Tweets Arizona cornerback Robert Golden: Watching them UofA boyz make a run for that Pac-10 Title!!
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Oregon State is on a 6-0 run and had a chance to take the lead … but Joe Burton threw an long, outlet pass to nowhere. It will be Arizona’s ball after the timeout with 3:49 left, and the cold-shooting Cats lead 23-22.
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Just a side note: Former Arizona guard Zane Johnson has been hot for Hawaii in his first year of eligibility with the Warriors. He recently had a six-game streak in which he averaged 20.5 points while shooting 53 percent from 3-point range.
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Derrick Williams comes back in the game with more than nine minutes left in the half.
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There has actually been some really good action in the past several minutes, with Arizona’s outside shooting — 3-pointers from Jamelle Horne and Jordin Mayes — compensating for the absence of Derrick Williams.
Meanwhile, Oregon State has been taking advantage of Williams’ foul trouble to damage inside. Joe Burton dribble-hesitated his way past Kyryl Natyazhko along the baseline for a reverse layup, and Angus Brandt will be trying to finish a 3-point play after the timeout.
Arizona leads 16-12 with 10:03 left in the half.
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Seven turnovers for Oregon State just over six minutes. And yet Arizona leads by just two points.
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Mark the time: 14:53 of the first half. That’s when Derrick Williams picks up his second foul, both on the offensive end. Arizona leads 8-6. Let’s see when Sean Miller brings Williams back and when … and what the score is.
This might preclude Miller’s wishes of trying Williams and backup center Kyryl Natyazhko together at the same.
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We all knew this game wasn’t go a thrill-a-minute affair, with Oregon State sitting back it its zone and taking its time on offense … and a sloppy first four minutes haven’t helped. The Beavers opened with a 2-3 zone, then went to their 1-3-1. Arizona has made some unforced turnovers but leads 6-4 with 15:47 to play.
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OK, now it’s three possessions, three turnovers for Arizona, as Derrick Williams is called for an illegal screen.
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Two possessions, two turnovers for Arizona — Solomon Hill loses the ball out of bounds along the baseline, and Jesse Perry travels while backing down into the lane.
PREGAME
Arizona ends a long trip in the state of Oregon tonight with a late game against Oregon State. This will be the spot for our in-game commentary and analysis and other assorted updates.
Coach Sean Miller has been figuring some things out lately, inserting Jesse Perry into the lineup at power forward for the past two games in place of Jamelle Horne. Perry is a better fit for what Miller wants — hit the offensive glass and clean up any messes inside.
The Wildcats have been getting ready for the Beavers’ zone defense (a 2-3 matchup and a 1-3-1), and they are hoping for revenge/redemption after getting swept by Oregon State last season.
The Beavers won 67-64 in Corvallis last season and 63-55 in Tucson. The Wildcats made a combined 42 of 104 shots from the field against Oregon State.
Oregon State is 6-6 this season and is coming off a victory over Arizona State. The Beavers are playing their “best basketball of the season,” Miller said.
Javier Morales of WildAboutAZCats has his usual thorough breakdown for us at TucsonCitizen.com … and he picks Arizona to win by seven.
