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Cats defeat UNLV 52-49

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LAS VEGAS — Jordan Hill put up another monster game Wednesday, and the timing couldn't have been better for Arizona.

With UNLV's defense locked in on UA standouts Chase Budinger and Jerryd Bayless, Hill came through with 16 points and a career-high 19 rebounds to muscle the Wildcats to a 52-49 win over the Rebels at Thomas & Mack Center.

Hill already had 23 points and 14 rebounds against Illinois on Dec. 8, and 15 points with nine rebounds Sunday against Fresno State.

"Arizona's a guard school, but you've got to watch out for the big man," Hill said, smiling.

The Wildcats did not lead the game until 1:16 remained, when Nic Wise hit 1 of 2 free throws, but kept the game close by dumping the ball inside to Hill and holding the Rebels to 31 percent shooting.

Then, at the end, it was Jawann McClellan, not Budinger or Bayless, who found himself open for the game-winner with 26 seconds left. McClellan drilled a three-pointer from the left corner to give the Wildcats a 52-48 lead and Arizona kept the lead the rest of way.

"I'm very, very proud of our guys that they hung in there and found a way to win this game," UA interim head coach Kevin O'Neill said. "I feel good anytime we're within striking distance."

The win moved the UA to 8-2 entering a home game Saturday with San Diego State, while UNLV dropped to 7-3, losing for only the second time in its last 21 games at Thomas & Mack Center.

It was the lowest scoring game the Wildcats have been involved in since they beat Marquette 48-43 during the 2004-05 season in a game when guard Salim Stoudamire was suspended.

Getting the victory wasn't a surprise even for Budinger, who was limited to a six-point night on 2-for-10 shooting. Budinger blamed an off night for his shooting, not the UNLV defense, but said he wasn't concerned about the final score, even as UNLV kept its lead until the final minutes.

"We were never worried," Budinger said. "That stuff doesn't faze us anymore."

Still, the Wildcats made it interesting, even after Wise gave them the lead. Wise had already missed the free throw on a potential three-point play, and he missed 1 of 2 when he shot with 1:16 left.

After dishing the assist to McClellan for what proved to be the game winner, Wise also turned the ball over with 17 seconds left, giving UNLV an immediate chance to tie the game. But Curtis Terry missed a three-pointer and, after Hill missed a free throw after being fouled, Terry missed another three-pointer at the buzzer to leave Arizona ahead.

Still, McClellan credited Wise, who had nine points, seven assists and four turnovers.

"I just happened to take the shot," McClellan said. "You've got to credit Nic. He was finding the right man all night and he did a great job defensively."

Wise wound up playing 36 minutes in part because O'Neill lifted forward Bret Brielmaier just a minute into the game when he saw UNLV's lineup was too small and quick. Brielmaier entered the game averaging 19.1 minutes.

"We had to go small," O'Neill said. "I told him, 'Bret, we've gotta downsize. You can't go.' So that's what we did."

The one player with size O'Neill kept out there, Hill, managed to create mismatches all night.

"Tonight we went to him because he's getting better," O'Neill said. "And let's face it, they were switching every pin-down screen, with all those smalls out there. They took Jerryd and Chase out of the game for the most part and did what they needed to do and we did what we needed to do, and that was go to Jordan."

Which was fine with Hill, even if he suffered a hip injury Sunday against Fresno State. Hill said he received a cortisone shot Monday and did not feel any pain Wednesday.

"It was an advantage for me," Hill said. Teammates "know they should look to me in the paint. I was getting good looks and good shots."

Wink Adams led the Rebels with 19 points and eight rebounds.

UNLV opened up a 40-32 lead with 13:10 left, but Wise and Bayless hit three-pointers to pull the UA within 40-38. Budinger and Hill then scored inside to cut the Rebels' lead to one, before Adams hit a jumper to give UNLV a 45-42 lead.

In the first half, Hill posted a double-double but UNLV still hung on for a 30-28 halftime lead.

Hill had 10 points and 10 rebounds in 14 first-half minutes. Adams led UNLV in the half with 14 points.

The Rebels went up 8-4 four minutes into the game, while the Wildcats had two early turnovers. They later went up 13-7 on a three-pointer by Adams and held small leads most of the half.

The UA tied it at 28 in the final seconds of the first half but Rene Rougeau scored inside for UNLV to give the Rebels a 30-28 lead and that left enough time only for Budinger to fire up a half-court shot that missed.