The University of Arizona overcame a hostile crowd and a hot shooting opponent for an 86-81 win over the University of California at Santa Barbara to close the West Regional's first round play at The Pit.
The Wildcats used the stellar play of junior guard Jason Gardner and junior forward Rick Anderson, who combined for 30 second-half points, to help the team rebound from a 35-32 deficit. The Wildcats shot 59 percent from the field in the second half and 46.7 percent from 3-point range, as stark contrast to its 13-for-31 field-goal performance from the first half.
Gardner, who led the team with 28 points, said first round games are the hardest games for teams because they have to adjust to elements that are different from the regular season.
"You got to get used to the gym, sometimes you don't have a crowd, but we had a lot of crowd," Gardner said. "And also, (the Gauchos) came out and played a great game."
The Wildcats had to deal with a hostile crowd that warmed to UCSB as the game went along and showed its disdain for Olson. His team was booed twice as it entered The Pit floor, but the loudest cascade of boos was saved for Olson himself when he strolled down the ramp minutes before tip-off.
Olson said he didn't mind the boos, but they showed what local fans think of his team.
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"It's pretty obvious that fans here don't want Arizona to come back here," Olson said. "I think that was pretty obvious."
It took the first five minutes of the second half for Arizona to wrest control of the game away from the Gauchos. Gardner started the comeback with a 3-pointer 16 seconds after halftime and, later, gave the Wildcats a 40-39 lead on a 3-point play off a layup. Anderson came up with key baskets that kept UCSB at bay, including a 3-pointer to give that extended Arizona's lead to 66-58. He added a crucial putback with 47.7 seconds left after the Gauchos cut an 11-point deficit to 80-76.
Olson lauded his team's effort and its ability to win close games.
"I think it was obvious with this one - and obvious with other games today - this is a matter of survival, and we survived," Olson said. " Not by much, but we survived."
Arizona survived despite the shooting display put on by junior forward Mark Hull, who hit 8 treys and scored 32 points to lead UCSB. Hull connected on six 3-pointers in the first half and hit three in a row at one point to take the Gauchos from a tied score at 21 to a 30-26 lead with 1:57 left.
Hull said it doesn't take much for him to get on a roll.
"I hit one or two, and usually, if I hit one, that's pretty much enough to get me going," he said. "So I just got some open looks, and the guys were finding me in transition. They were getting the ball to me when I was hot."
The Wildcats now face the University of Wyoming Saturday afternoon in the second round with a berth to the excusive class teams called the "Sweet 16" on the line. The game will begin a half-hour after the second game between Ohio State University and the University of Missouri
