12.21.1999
No. 3 Arizona Upset by New Mexico
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TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Roland Hannah scored on a rebound with 1.4 seconds to play to give New Mexico a stunning 70-68 victory over third-ranked Arizona Tuesday night, snapping the Wildcats' 37-game homecourt winning streak.
Kevin Henry scored nine of his 18 points in the final 4 1/2 minutes, including a four-point play, as New Mexico (6-5) became the first team to beat Arizona at McKale Center since UCLA won 66-64 on Feb. 13, 1997.
It was the fourth-longest homecourt winning streak in NCAA Division I behind only Murray State, Utah and Duke.
Lamont Long, who also scored 18, made both halves of a 1-and-1 free throw opportunity to put New Mexico up 68-66 with 45.1 seconds to play. Loren Woods, who scored 16 for Arizona, made two free throws to tie it 68-68 with 34.4 seconds remaining.
The Lobos worked for the last shot. Long missed a 10-foot jumper but Hannah grabbed the rebound and banked it in for the winning basket.
After a timeout, the Wildcats inbounded to Jason Gardner in frontcourt. He was knocked off balance but no foul was called and his desperation shot was off the mark.
Richard Jefferson scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half for Arizona. Jefferson, who played only seven minutes in the first half because of foul trouble, scored six consecutive points, four on free throws, to put Arizona up 58-51 with 6:19 to play.
But the Lobos came back. Henry sank consecutive 3-pointers, and was fouled by Jefferson on the second one. He made the free throw for a four-point play that tied it 60-60 with 3:57 to go.
The game was tied three more times before Hannah's winning shot.
Arizona is at its best in a fast-paced game, and the Lobos played rough, physical defense while forcing the Wildcats into a mostly halfcourt game. New Mexico was called for 30 fouls, including an intentional one, compared with 14 against Arizona.
New Mexico scored nine in a row, taking a 28-20 lead on Wayland White's fast-break layup with 4:32 to play in the first half.
Gardner sank a 3-pointer, his only field goal of the half, with 42 seconds to play to give the Wildcats a 34-33 lead at the break.
Gilbert Arenas scored 14 but only four in the second half. Michael Wright was 1-for-5 and scored two points. Gardner was just 2-for-11 from the field.
New Mexico had won only once in 11 games at McKale Center, 93-81 on Jan. 14, 1978. The Lobos had lost six straight in Tucson since then, but beat the Wildcats 79-78 in Albuquerque last season.
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