Arizona Foils Cal Comeback, 93-81 : Pacific 10: Kidd scores 27, but Mills has 26 and No. 8-ranked Wildcats make 14 of 16 free throws down the stretch.

Arizona Coach Lute Olson blamed himself for letting California launch a comeback Sunday, even though his team overcame his mistake.

Behind Chris Mills’ 26 points and Khalid Reeves’ 23, the eighth-ranked Wildcats made 14 of 16 free throws late in the game to hold off Cal for their 13th consecutive victory, 93-81.

Arizona, which improved its record to 15-2 overall and 9-0 in Pacific 10 Conference, seemed firmly in control with a 71-49 lead with 9:42 to play. But the Wildcats suddenly went cold and careless, turning the ball over on four of five possessions, and Jason Kidd’s three-point basket with 5:29 left ended a 15-0 run that brought Cal within 71-64.

Olson took the blame for the Cal comeback, saying he made “a sizable” coaching mistake because he did not substitute soon enough for his starting guards, Reeves and Damon Stoudamire.

“That was my fault rather than anything the players did,” Olson said.

Arizona came back to outscore Cal, 7-2, with Reeves’ layup with 3:05 to play making the score 78-66. Cal then resorted to three-point shots and fouling, but the Wildcats converted all but two of 16 free throws in the final 4:46.

Olson said Reeves’ 31-minute performance, mostly guarding Kidd, was “as solid a game as he’s played for us. He did a great job, played exceptionally well on defense, he shot the shots when he had them and he knocked down his free throws (eight of 11).”

Kidd, the country’s most-heralded freshman, scored 27 points and had six assists.

Kidd praised Reeves’ effort.

“He’s a good player,” Kidd said. “He was supposed to be in a slump. I don’t think he’s in a slump anymore. He stepped up his game today.”

Cal (10-7, 4-5) made five three-point baskets during the final 2:42, three by Lamond Murray, who scored 17 points, and two by Kidd.