12/23/2008

TUCSON--Arizona's Jordan Hill had his usual double-double and Nic Wise chipped in a normal 16 points, but a pair of career games by Jamelle Horne and Kyle Fogg helped the Wildcats overcome Kansas, 84-67, in non-conference holiday action at the Desert Diamond Fiesta Bowl Classic.

Hill had a game-high 23 points and added 11 rebounds, but Horne added his own double with career highs of 19 points and 13 rebounds, while Fogg put in 14 points. UA had some support and floor leadership from Wise with eight assists. All four performances were needed, with star Chase Budinger held to five points on one for nine shooting.

Wise hit 10 of 10 from the free throw line to help lead UA to 23 points at the stripe, to 14 for Kansas. The Jayhawks hit nine three-pointers, but only three in the second half.

The Jayhawks, who shot 43 percent from the field, were led by Sherron Collins with 16 points, Marcus Morris with 12 and Cole Aldrich with 10.

UA improved to 8-3, dropping Kansas to a matching record.

UA's defense and rebounding in the second half proved enough to overcome less-than-effective first-half pressure and pull away from a 38-35 halftime deficit. The Cats finished with a 40-29 edge on the boards.

Arizona's 14-3 run early in the second half pushed the Cats into the lead and UA just kept going.

Fogg tied the game at 47 apiece with a layup off a Nic Wise pass, then Jordan Hill hit a turnaround hook shot, and Hill hit a free throw to make it 50-47.

UA got a long pass to lead Wise on a break, and although fouled he made both free throws to put the Cats up 52-47, it biggest lead to that point. Moments later, Fogg got a steal and was fouled making a layup, hitting the bonus for an eight-point margin, 55-47, at the 12:32 mark.

Cole Aldrich hit a free throw, but Hill got an offensie rebound put-back for a 57-48 margin. After a Sherron Collins layup, Budinger got a monster dunk on the break -- his first points in the game -- and was fouled by Aldrich, knocking down the free throw for a 10-point lead, 60-50, with 11 minutes left.

The Cats kept the run going, pushing it to a 29-6 spree, with a layup by Wise in the open court, giving UA a 14-point margin, 64-50, with 10 minutes left.

Sherron Collins knocked down a three-pointer at 9:43 to stop the bleeding and pull KU to within 11.

A few minutes later, Tyshawn Taylor's pair of free throws trimmed the lead to 10, 67-57, with just over eight minutes left to set up the final stretch.

First Half Action:

The game opened with dunks by UA's Jordan Hill and an answer from Markieff Morris, both on drives. Nic Wise penetrated and kicked to Kyle Fogg for an open jumper, but KU got a fast break layup from Marcus Morris to tie it up at four apiece in the first 70 seconds.

Kansas went on an 8-0 run to open an early lead. Tyshawn Taylor drained a three to give KU a 7-4 lead, and after a turnover by Fogg the Jayhawks capitalized with a bucket from Marcus Morris. A minute later Kansas made it 12-4 on another three by Taylor.

Jamelle Horne's jumper cut it to 12-6, then a minute later he canned another to make it a three-point game. A UA stop led to another possession and Hill knocked down a short jumper to make it a one-point game, 12-11, at 13:03 and the first media timeout.

Horne gave UA its second lead a short while later, but KU went on an 11-6 run over the next five minutes to lead 24-19 just inside eight minutes.

Sherron Collins knocked down a three-pointer to stretch it to an eight-point lead after a UA miss, but Horne had a put-back layin to keep it close, 27-21. UA missed two shots and KU made it hurt with an offensive-rebound basket from Marcus Morris to kick the lead back to eight points at 5:51 and Arizona coach Russ Pennell called time out.

Arizona's Zane Johnson hit a three to trim the deficit to five, and after a miss at the other end Nic Wise drove and was fouled. he made both free throws to make it a three-point game, 29-26. Morningstar flashed to the lane and hit a short jumper, but Hill answered with a move at the other end for an inside hook to keep it at three, 31-28.

Horne was fouled trying to dunk and scored his 10th point with one of two free throws, putting Arizona within a bucket, but KU broke UA's press and Morningstar banged home a three-pointer to boost the lead back to five, 39-29. Hill replied with a tough inside move to keep UA within striking distance.

The Cats capped a 12-5 run when Wise hit a driving layup, and Kansas coach Bill Self called time out with a 34-33 lead and 2:29 left in the frame. Kansas worked it inside and Cole Aldrich earned a pair of free throws, making the second one.

Hill laid it in on the break off a Chase Budinger pass to tie the game at 35-all with about a minute left. The Jayhawks worked it inside again on the other end and Markieff Morris earned a two-shot foul, making the first. Wise overpenetrated at the other end and lost the ball, then UA fouled again inside, this time sending Marcus Morris to the line. He made both for a 38-35 lead.

Arizona worked for one shot with a four-second differential but Budinger turned it over and Taylor was fouled by Johnson driving down the sideline with two seconds left. He missed the first end of a one-and-one and the score held.

Both teams shot 44 percent from the field, with Kansas getting an edge off the six threes from four different players. UA had a strong 14 points from its bench.