Arizona beats Florida to claim 2nd upset

NEW YORK -- Rick Anderson wasn't around for Arizona's run to last season's national championship game. He came up with the big plays Friday night that made it possible for the Wildcats to win the Coaches vs Cancer Classic with a second straight upset of a Top Ten team.

The junior forward, who sat out last season as a redshirt, scored Arizona's final six points and the Wildcats beat No. 6 Florida 75-71 to win the season-opening event at Madison Square Garden.

On Thursday night, Arizona, which returned one starter from last season, shocked No. 2 Maryland 71-67. Maybe it wasn't such a shock.

Anderson, who finished with 11 points, hit an 18-footer as the shot clock expired with 1:41 left to give Arizona a 71-69 lead.

Orien Greene scored on a drive with 1:05 left to tie it.

Jason Gardner, who led the Wildcats with 23 points, was forced to call a timeout with 28 seconds left when he lost his dribble with 3 seconds left on the shot clock.

After three 30-second timeouts, two by Arizona, Gardner inbounded the ball to Anderson who took two strong dribbles and made a left-handed layup, again as the shot clock expired, and the Wildcats had the lead for good.

Brett Nelson of Florida fell to the floor and was tied up with 14 seconds left. Playing under the experimental preseason rules, there was a jump ball instead of using the possession arrow.

The jump ball between Nelson and Luke Walton of the Wildcats resulted in a scramble at midcourt and another jump ball with 10 seconds left.

This time it was the centers jumping, Isaiah Fox of Arizona and Florida's Udonis Haslem. Florida controlled it but Matt Bonner fired a pass out of bounds.

Gardner was fouled with 4.9 seconds left and missed both, but he grabbed the rebound of the second, threw it high in the air and Anderson got it and made another layup as the horn sounded.

Gardner, who had 23 points in the opener, was selected as tournament MVP.

The win in this tournament was sweet for Arizona coach Lute Olson beyond the title and two big wins. His wife, Bobbi, died last January after a long battle with ovarian cancer.

Freshman Will Bynum finished with 16 points for Arizona.