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TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Even without leading scorer and rebounder Jordan Hill, Arizona found a way to win the battle of the Wildcats. Nic Wise scored a career-high 23 points as Arizona overcame a slow start to beat Weber State 71-65 Monday night.
"I tried to be more assertive. It was our first time playing without Jordan," Wise said. "He is our finisher. He is the guy who finishes off plays for us. Without having him, everybody had to step up."
Hill sat out with a strained left leg muscle suffered in a recent practice but is expected to be ready when Arizona (9-3) plays its Pac-10 Conference opener Friday night at California.
Kellen McCoy had 16 points to lead Weber State (6-7), which led 36-33 early in the second half.
"We wanted it. We smelled it," McCoy said of upset bid. "They just made some shots there down the line. Nic Wise played a heck of a game out there. We made it close, but Arizona just made the right plays."
Chase Budinger finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds for Arizona.
Budinger had only one field goal before dunking a half-court lob pass from Wise to give Arizona a 58-49 lead with 9:30 remaining.
McCoy's 3-pointer and his short follow-up with 25 seconds brought Weber State within 69-65 before Jamelle Horne hit two free throws to seal Arizona's win.
Budinger made only 3 of 14 shots from the field while Wise was 9-of-17.
"The shot feels good. They are just not going in," Budinger said. "I've been doing extra work. It will come back. I'm not worried about it. I just need one of those kind of breakout games to get my confidence back up."
Arizona led 31-30 at halftime despite shooting 31 percent and going a stretch without scoring a field goal for almost eight minutes.
Damian Lillard had 15 points and Kyle Bullinger 11 for Weber State. Lillard gave his team a 36-33 lead after his second straight 3-pointer to open the second half.
Daviin Davis' short jumper closed Weber State's deficit to 49-46 after Arizona had used a 14-2 run to take a nine-point lead.
"The first five minutes of the second half was key," Weber State coach Randy Rahe said. "They made a couple of threes in a row and it looked like the tide was starting to turn."
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
