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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Richard Jefferson did all he could do to
beat Texas, then had to wait, and wait and wait ...
Jefferson scored 19 points -- all in the second half -- as No. 4 Arizona beat No. 9 Texas 88-81 on Saturday night.
|  | | Arizona's Loren Woods tries to figure out the defense of Chris Owens. |
But after scoring eight straight points, including two
3-pointers, to turn a 66-66 tie into a 74-68 Arizona lead with 1:29
left, Jefferson had to count on his teammates to preserve the
victory.
They did as the Wildcats hit 14 of 18 free throws over the final
1:09, possibly knocking the Longhorns from their first Top Ten
ranking since 1982.
"That was the longest minute I've ever played in my entire
life," Jefferson said. "Ever.
"They hit so many shots down the stretch."
Texas, which had fought back from a 10-point second-half
deficit, rallied again and pulled within 83-81 on Chris McColpins'
3-pointer with 11.9 seconds left before Luke Walton and freshman
guard Gilbert Arenas went 5-of-6 from the foul line in the final
seconds for Arizona (6-0).
Texas had one last chance to tie after Walton's free throw made
it 84-81, but Longhorns guard Darren Kelly drove the lane for a
layup instead of setting up for a 3-pointer to tie.
Kelly missed and Arenas grabbed the rebound before he was fouled.
"I was excited," Jefferson said. "I was guarding him and once he crossed the 3-point line, it was like, 'Let him hit it."'
Texas didn't hit much of anything for most of the night before
its final flurry. The Longhorns shot just 39 percent and were 13 of
21 from the foul line. Arizona has held all six opponents this
season under 40 percent shooting.
Against Arizona's freshmen guards of Arenas and Jason Gardner, Texas' senior backcourt of Ivan Wagner and William Clay were a combined 5-of-19 for 16 points.
Gardner finished with 18 points and five assists. He was 4 of 6
from 3-point range. Arenas had 14 points and Michael Wright had 16
points and 13 rebounds for Arizona.
"I think our shot selection could have been a little better,"
said Wagner, who fouled out in the final minute. "But tomorrow
we'll come in and coach (Rick) Barnes will show us what we need to
improve.
"It just seemed like every time we got close enough, they
pulled away."
Chris Owens led Texas with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Center
Chris Mihm scored 18 points, including 14 in the second half, but
was held to just five rebounds -- snapping his streak of nine
consecutive double-doubles dating back to last season.
Mihm, struggling with a badly bruised shin, played just nine
minutes in the first half because of foul trouble.
Arizona took it right at Mihm from the opening tipoff when Loren
Woods won the tip and Jefferson lobbed it in to Arenas for an easy
basket.
Arenas challenged Mihm again five minutes later with a drive
down the lane that drew Mihm's second foul. The early foul trouble
sent the anchor of Texas' front line to the bench for 11 minutes of
the first half.
Arizona couldn't take full advantage of the opening in the
middle, however, even as the Wildcats shot 46 percent in the first
half.
Texas shot just 33 percent in the first half, including 2-of-12
from 3-point range, but took 13 more shots than Arizona as the
Wildcats gave up 13 turnovers.
Texas led 27-18 in the first half on Gabe Muoneke's three-point
play before Arizona closed to 31-29 at halftime on Gardner's
3-pointer and six points from Rick Anderson.
Texas, ranked in the Top Ten for the first time since 1982, was
playing its first game since beating No. 8 Michigan State 81-74 in
the Puerto Rico Shootout a week ago. The Longhorns have never won
two straight over Top Ten opponents.
"Our team showed a lot of heart tonight," Barnes said. "We
knew it would be a tough game. I thought part of the problem was
that we were too emotional. It is early December, so we will learn
from this."
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Arizona Clubhouse
Texas Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Ron Gardner soars through the Longhorns defense.
avi: 562 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Gilbert Arenas launches a long-range jumper against Texas.
avi: 856 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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