More Photos (2):

Other articles by Bruce Pascoe:

Now that's a switch Like Fogg, Williams will come in unseen Cats gain one more of USC's recruits NY duo sure they can make it here It's not Rocket science: Chase faces challenge Hill goes No. 8 to Knicks Budinger traded to Houston RocketsHill chosen No. 8 overall by Knicks Released from USC, point guard commits to play for Miller, Cats Hill preparing for unknown

Dental
Southern Arizona Endodontics
Dental Assistant General
A1 Communications
Cable Techs Trades/Construction
RANCHO RESORT
MAINTANANCE POSITION Health Care
Sierra Tucson
Eating Disorders Program Coordinator

The NBA All-Star who wears "0," because that's the playing time he was told to expect at Arizona, found himself challenged again Sunday.

But even when Gilbert Arenas poured in 20 second-half points, thanks to some halftime goading from Arizona assistant basketball coach Josh Pastner, it wasn't enough to steal the show away from the 1997 national champion Arizona basketball team.

The five 1997 players on hand — Miles Simon, Jason Terry, Bennett Davison, A.J. Bramlett and Gene Edgerson — combined for 90 points and 35 rebounds to lead their blue team to a 132-124 victory over Arenas and the white team in the Lute Olson All-Star Classic before 8,101 fans at McKale Center.

The blue team, which started the five 1997 players, had an early 15-8 lead thanks to two straight three-pointers from Simon and, except for a lull midway through the first half, led most of the way.

The fact that it has been nine years since the core of that title team played together, last appearing in the 1998 NCAA West Region final, hardly mattered.

Some chemistry never evaporates.

"It was like riding a bike," said Simon, who scored 24 points.

Davison, who recorded the event himself with a camcorder during a timeout, said he could feel the difference, too.

"When the five of us were playing together, the flow seemed a lot better," Davison said. "We thought we could win the game and have fun doing it."

Things went so well for the 1997 bunch that Terry led all scorers with 30 points and Davison, known as an athletically gifted post defender at Arizona, drained two three-pointers by halftime.

"As soon as he hit that second one, he gave me a look like, 'Why didn't you let me do that when I was here?'" Olson said.

Of course, all results must be judged by the fact that the defense was all but nonexistent and the intensity, for those off the ball, was tepid. While Arenas and Terry held some memorable head-to-head competitions beyond the three-point line, there were plenty of moments like these:

● Simon hugging Joseph Blair under the basket for a foul when he knew Blair would score on him.

● Steve Kerr running straight to the bench after firing up an airball and asking Reggie Geary to replace him.

● NBA referee Tommy Nunez scooping up a loose ball and firing it to Arenas for a jumper near the left corner.

Nunez's "assist" helped Arenas amass 14 points over the final five minutes of the game, barely winning a bet he placed with Pastner to score 20 in the second half. Arenas, who recently proclaimed himself the "No. 1 player" from Arizona on his NBA.com blog, scored only five points while shooting 1 of 6 on three-point attempts in the first half.