Jan. 6, 2001
Box Score|QuotesBy BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer
TUCSON, Ariz. - Stanford finally won one on Lute Olson Court, andArizona's coach wasn't there to watch a painful season get worse for his team.
The No. 2 Cardinal's balance was on full display in beating the 16th-rankedWildcats 85-76 Saturday for only their third victory at McKale Center in 27tries and their first since 1996.
Stanford (13-0, 2-0 Pac-10) didn't get a point from its reserves, but theway the starters played, that didn't matter.
Jarron Collins scored 22, Ryan Mendez a season-high 20, Jason Collins 19 andCasey Jacobsen 16 as the Cardinal ended Arizona's string of 31 consecutivehome-court Pac-10 victories.
"For the seniors, this meant a lot," Mendez said. "We've never won herebefore. And just the way the Collins twins dominated inside was huge."
Arizona (8-5, 1-1), ranked No. 1 in the preseason, was already strugglingand now has had to deal with the loss of Bobbi Olson, the coach's wife of 47years who died of cancer on Monday.
Lute Olson, who had the court named after him a year ago, has missed threegames in a row and his return date is not known.
"It was odd to look down the bench without seeing that imposing figure withgray hair down there," Stanford coach Mike Montgomery said of his counterpart."It was very strange."
A memorial service for Bobbi Olson is planned for McKale Center on Monday.She had been like a second mother to the current Arizona players and thosebefore them.
"Arizona is a great basketball team, make no mistake about that,"Montgomery said. "I'm sure they're not playing as well as they're capable ofplaying. There's a little bit of confidence lacking. There's a little bit of anemotional drain. There's no question about that.
"But to come in here and win and be in charge and not get backed off ispretty special. This is a real hard place to do that."
Loren Woods scored 16 for the Wildcats, who never led after the game's firstnine minutes. Michael Wright scored 14 and sat out the last 8:17 of the firsthalf in foul trouble. Gilbert Arenas scored 13, Jason Gardner 12.
Arenas, though was just 3-for-14 from the field, 1-for-7 from 3-point range.
Arizona lost at home for the second time this season, the first time that'shappened since 1995-96. The Wildcats hadn't lost a Pac-10 home game since UCLAbeat them 66-64 on Feb. 13, 1997.
Stanford had lost five of six to Arizona, including both games last season.
The Collins twins dominated Woods and Wright inside as Stanford outreboundedArizona 42-32. Jason had 12 rebounds, six on offense. Jarron had nine.
"The Collins twins made the difference," Montgomery said.
The Wildcats trailed by 10 at the half and were down by as many as 17 in thesecond.
Arizona rallied to cut it to seven, but could get no closer.
"I thought we were impatient offensively," Arizona associate head coachJim Rosborough said. "I think we had the ball on the floor too much. We haveto wait for openings. ... This was a big game. This would have been a good oneto get for coach Olson and Bobbi."
Mendez, who scored 14 in the first half, sank two free throws after atechnical foul was called on Gardner to cap an 8-0 run and give Stanford a60-43 lead with 13:43 to play.
The Wildcats forced three consecutive turnovers during a 7-0 spurt that cutit to 60-50 when Gardner made one of two free throws with 11:13 to go. Woodshad an inside basket and a breakaway stuff during the run.
After Jacobsen's long 3-pointer made it 73-61 with 5:40 left, Arizona scoredfive in a row to cut the lead to 73-66 with 4:15 to go.
Michael McDonald scored on a drive to start a 7-1 spurt, then capped it witha 3-pointer to make it 80-67 with 2:10 remaining, and the Wildcats werefinished.
Stanford led 23-21 when Wright sat down with two fouls with 8:18 to go inthe first half. The Cardinal outscored Arizona 21-13 the rest of the half.
"The first half we played decent, but Stanford is too good to only playdecent," Woods said. "You have to play 100 percent against them, or you aregoing to be in trouble."
Mendez made five of seven shots and scored 14 in the half. Jacobsen added10, including a 3-pointer at the halftime buzzer.
Afterward, Jason Collins paid tribute to Bobbi Olson.
"First and foremost, I really feel for coach Olson," Collins said. "Hehas suffered a tremendous loss. I had the opportunity to meet Bobbi Olson whenI came to Arizona for a recruiting trip, and she was an extraordinary lady."