TUCSON, Ariz. — Nick Johnson scored 18 points, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 14 points and 10 rebounds in place of injured starter Brandon Ashley and No. 2 Arizona grinded out a 67-65 victory over Oregon on Thursday night.Coming off its first loss of the season, Arizona (22-1, 9-1 Pac-12) labored offensively in its first game without Ashley, who is out for the season with a foot injury.As they have so many times this season, the Wildcats pulled out a victory by turning up the defensive pressure late to overcome a 4-for-16 effort from 3-point range and 16 missed free throws.T.J. McConnell hit a 3-pointer with 90 seconds left and Johnson went 5 of 6 from the free throw line in the final minute to prevent the Wildcats’ first losing streak of the season.Oregon (15-7, 3-7) kept up with Arizona and led late in the second half, but stumbled down the stretch.Joseph Young and Jason Calliste had 14 points each and Damyean Dotson added 12 for the Ducks, who missed key free throws in the closing seconds and a desperation 3-point attempt at the buzzer.Forced to shuffle his lineup with Ashley out, Arizona coach Sean Miller moved Hollis-Jefferson from his sixth-man spot into the starting lineup and long-range shooter Gabe York slid into his first-off-the-bench role.The new-look rotation was solid early, dropping in 3-pointers and flying in for dunks while Kaleb Tarczewski had his way inside.The Ducks started double-teaming Tarczewski later in the half and McConnell picked up his third foul late, upsetting the Wildcats’ offensive rhythm. It didn’t help that Arizona struggled — again — from the free throw line, making 11 of 19 in the first half.Arizona continued to labor offensively to open the second half, missing seven of its first eight shots as Oregon pushed the lead to 46-40.The Wildcats pulled within 60-59 on a putback by Tarczewski.
No. 2 Arizona grinds out 67-65 win over Oregon
College Basketball