Field Level Media
Feb 20, 2020
Arizona's three freshman starters combined for 47 points and the 24th-ranked Wildcats took advantage of the ejection of Oregon State standout Tres Tinkle in an 89-63 victory Thursday night in Tucson, Ariz.
Josh Green led the way with 18 points for Arizona, which won its third in a row and avenged an 82-65 loss at Oregon State on Jan. 12. Nico Mannion added 16 points, and Zeke Nnaji contributed 13 for the Wildcats (19-7, 9-4 Pac-12).
Max Hazzard came off the bench to pour in 15 points -- 13 after halftime.
Oregon State (15-11, 5-9) committed 21 turnovers. Jarod Lucas scored a team-high 18, while Kylor Kelley had 14 points, eight rebounds and five blocks.
Tinkle, Oregon State's leading scorer and rebounder, was ejected with 13:17 to go after picking up his second technical foul when he hit Arizona guard Jemarl Baker in the face with his right elbow on a drive to the basket.
Tinkle picked up a technical in the first half on a double-technical call when he briefly tangled with Arizona center Christian Koloko after a dead-ball turnover.
Tinkle's father, Beavers coach Wayne Tinkle, drew a technical foul at the 11:56 mark for arguing with the officials.
Mannion hit the ensuing two free throw attempts to cap a 9-0 run for a 58-40 lead. His 3-pointer with 13:56 left -- ending a personal 0-for-13 stretch that lasted more than 3 1/2 games -- started the run.
About a minute before his ejection, Tinkle drilled a 3-pointer to give him 10 points, extending his school record of double-digit scoring games to 91.
Oregon State, which averages 11.0 turnovers per game, had 12 in just over the first 17 minutes and trailed 40-30 at halftime.
The Wildcats led by as many as 13 in the first half, up 35-22 after a dunk by Koloko. Tinkle scored the next six points for Oregon State, which moved within 37-30 on a 3-pointer by Lucas with 1:50 left. Nnaji finished the half with his fourth 3-pointer of the season to push the lead back to 10.
--Field Level Media