CORVALLIS, Ore. – Home is no longer the last resort for winning.

The Arizona men’s basketball team (15-8, 5-5 Pacific 10 Conference) scrapped its way to its first true road win of the season on Thursday night, defeating Oregon State (10-11, 4-6) 56-53 in Gill Coliseum.

Karma may have helped out.

After suffering three one-point losses due to late whistles earlier this season, Arizona received what some could call a lucky break to get its first true road win in seven tries this season.

With 1:08 left and the shot clock running down, UA guard Nic Wise drove through the lane, knocked down Oregon State guard Rickey Claitt with a bump, then sank a 15-footer to put the Wildcats ahead 55-53.

“”I kept going and made the shot,”” said Wise, who registered 14 points and 5 assists. “”No whistle, you keep playing. We learn that in little league basketball.””

UA interim head coach Russ Pennell said he thought it was “”a great no-call,”” because Claitt had made contact with Wise before the UA guard leaned in.

“”I thought the refs did a nice job of saying, ‘OK we didn’t call the first one, we don’t call the second one,’ Pennell said “”… I thought the guy kind of took a flop anyway.””

OSU head coach Craig Robinson said he thought there was enough there to warrant a call, and Claitt was even more upset about the no-call.

“”I jumped in front of him,”” Claitt said. “”I thought it was a charge. He didn’t have anywhere to go, except through me.””

After UA forward Chase Budinger made the front end of a one-and-one -ÿgiving him a game-high 17 points to go with 8 rebounds – the Beavers got the ball back with a 3-point deficit and 30 seconds to go.

OSU big man Roeland Schaftenaar – who made two consecutive 3-pointers in the first half -ÿmissed an attempted trey, and UA forward Jamelle Horne flew over the media table near midcourt in pursuit of the ball, but Horne touched the ball last before it went out.

The Wildcats found themselves with the ball again under the Beavers’ hoop with seconds to go, but Wise fell on his back and was called for a travel. OSU had to inbound the ball with 0.7 seconds left.

Schaftenaar got the ball in the corner and launched a potential game-tying 3, which went in and out.

“”Oregon State did a heck of a job to fight back and make it close,”” Budinger said. “”When you’re on the road, you’ve got to pretty much do everything. You’ve got to be perfect in the game.””

But the Wildcats were far from perfect in the first half.

Schaftenaar’s two 3-pointers gave the Beavers an 8-point buffer, but the Wildcats scored 6 unanswered points. Arizona wasn’t able, however, to convert on a last-second possession to end the first half, and went into the locker room trailing 23-21 after turning the ball over 11 times.

But with better control of the ball in the second half, the Wildcats turned it over just three times in the final 20 minutes. Arizona led by as much as 11 before Oregon State clawed its way back, giving the Beavers a chance to send the game into overtime.

“”I’m really (glad) that we got this win,”” Pennell said. “”The wins (are important) wherever they come from. We’re at a time of the year where that’s so important.””

And 1

Coming into Thursday night, Arizona averaged 14.5 turnovers per game on the road -ÿsix more than the Wildcats’ opponents. Each team finished the game with 14 turnovers.

Arizona also averaged 12.3 free throw attempts per game away from McKale Center, which is 8.2 per game less than its season average, but the Wildcats only took nine shots from the basket; the Beavers took just eight.

…

Arizona has now won eight straight games over Oregon State.