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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- The rabid New Mexico fans had been
grumbling as new coach Fran Fraschilla got off to a slow start.
A 70-68 victory at Arizona (No. 2 ESPN/USA Today, No. 3 AP) should quiet them for a while.
|  | | New Mexico's Wayland White looks for an opening against the defense of Luke Walton, left, and Jason Gardner. |
"We were 5-5 in here and people were down on us, even in our
own city," New Mexico's John Robinson said. "This will help us a
great deal."
No kidding. The Wildcats had won 37 in a row at
home, the fourth-longest streak in major-college basketball.
"It's just a great win for what has also been a storied basketball program at New Mexico," Fraschilla said "It's a great win for our players because they've got a new coaching staff, and
it's a great way to move into the next part of Lobo history."
Roland Hannah scored on a rebound with 1.4 seconds to play to give New Mexico the stunning victory.
Hannah admitted he could have been called for a foul on the play for pushing Arizona's Michael Wright out of the way to get the ball.
"I thought the ref was going to call a foul because I felt like I pushed Wright underneath the basket," Hannah said, "but he didn't call it."
It was the kind of rough play that the Lobos used from the start.
"One of the things you do when you take on the bully on the
block is you have to get the first punch in. That's always
important," Fraschilla said.
Kevin Henry scored nine of his 18 points in the final 4½
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. Only Murray State, Utah and Duke have
longer homecourt streaks.
Arizona is highest-ranked team New Mexico has beaten on the road
since 1966, when it beat defending national champion Texas Western,
which was ranked No. 2 in the AP poll.
"I never lost at home in high school or junior high,"
Arizona's Richard Jefferson said. "This is my first loss at home
ever."
Arizona (9-2), a 21-point favorite, was in trouble throughout.
"There was no doubt in my mind whatsoever that the team that
deserved to win won the game," Arizona coach Lute Olson said.
"They played harder and they played smarter than we did."
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 as Olson charged the court to
complain about the lack of a call.
"It is hard losing at home because of the fan support and
because of the streak," Gardner said. "We have to regroup. There
is a long season to go. We missed a lot of shots. We rushed too
much. We need to know how to relax at the end of a game."
Jefferson scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half for
Arizona, but missed a jumper with the game tied at 66-66 and about
50 seconds to go. Jefferson fouled out on the play, sending Long to
the foul line for the go-ahead free throws.
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.
"The key in this game was the first few minutes," Olson said.
"A team, especially at home, has to come out and establish itself.
They are the ones that established they could play with us, and
beat us."
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.
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 seventh-ranked Wildcats 79-78 in Albuquerque
last season. The Lobos also knocked off then-No. 1 Arizona 61-59 at
Albuquerque in 1988.
If it's any consolation, the last time Arizona lost at home, it
went on to win the national championship.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
New Mexico Clubhouse
Arizona Clubhouse
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Fran Fraschilla says the Lobos will gain credibility.
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RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Jason Gardner will look back on the negatives to improve.
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