Arizona Rallies to Beat FAU, 75-62

Monday, November 17

Tucson, Ariz.

11:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

Arizona

11/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Nov. 18, 2008

Box Score | Quotes | Action Photos

TUCSON, AZ - Florida Atlantic established an eight-point first half lead, fueled by a game-high 23 points from senior guard Paul Graham III but eventually lost to Pac-10 powerhouse Arizona 75-62 in the opener of the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament.

FAU (1-1) will play Santa Clara Tuesday night at 8:30 p.m. ET. In the night's first game at the McKale Center, Santa Clara (1-1) relinquished a nine-point second-half lead in a 64-61 loss to UAB.

13,006 fans watched the visitors from the Sun Belt Conference start out hot from 3-point range. Graham connected on a triple in the game's opening possession and Carderro Nwoji made his first two 3-point tries to give FAU a substantial early lead - 15-7, with 14:53 remaining in the first half.

FAU received an outstanding 15-rebound effort from freshman forward Chris Watson. Both Watson and Nwoji scored 10 points.

Arizona (1-0) - playing its season-opener - received a team-high 21 from All-America candidate Chase Budinger and junior classmate Nic Wise added 19. The Wildcats have made 24 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, the longest active streak in the NCAA.

Watson went 5-of-8 from the field and reached double-figures in scoring for the second-straight game to begin his collegiate career. A baseline jumper by Watson had given FAU its largest lead of eight in the first half.

15 of Budinger's points came in the opening period. He scored 11 of Arizona's first 16. Arizona did not manage a lead after 4-3, until a Budinger dunk put the 'Cats up 24-22 at the 6:12 mark.

Shavar Richardson had four points late in the first half, including a pair of free throws with 54 seconds left that pulled the Owls to within two, 37-35.

A Garland Judkins' transition lay-up in the closing seconds of the half gave Arizona a 39-35 advantage at the break. Wise opened the second half with a pair of 3-pointers and Arizona led 45-37.

Graham countered with eight of FAU's first ten points of the second half, but another Wise 3-point play, this one via a basket and free throw extended the Wildcats' lead to 54-43 with 12:56 to play.

Budinger did not score his first points of the half until connecting on two free throws 11 minutes into the period, but the points put UA up by 14.

Despite Graham pouring in 23, including making 7-of-9 free throws, FAU was 0-for-10 from the 3-point line in the second half and Arizona was able to pull away in front of its home crowd.