Suspended Woods Is Not Missed by Arizona

Michael Wright, starting at center in place of the suspended Loren Woods, scored 20 points and had 11 rebounds as No. 7-ranked Arizona recovered from another poor first half to rout Oregon State, 68-41, in a Pacific 10 Conference game Saturday night at Corvallis, Ore.

Woods was ordered out of practice by Coach Lute Olson on Friday, a team spokesman said. Woods scored 11 points on four-of-14 shooting in Arizona’s 79-67 loss to Oregon on Thursday night.

“It’s just a personal situation. We’ve got it straightened out,” Olson said. “He handled it very well, and will be back with us on Monday.”

Woods wasn’t bothered by his suspension.

“I’d like to play in every game, but if I can’t, I won’t worry about it,” he said. “We’re still going to win without me.”

Arizona, 15-6 overall and 7-2 in the Pac-10, shot just under 35% and produced a season-low in points (24) in the first half for the second consecutive game. But the Beavers were much worse, missing their first nine shots and falling behind, 13-0.

Jason Heide, playing on two sprained ankles, scored 16 points to lead Oregon State (8-13, 2-7), which suits up just eight players because of injuries.

Arizona made 17 of 22 shots in the second half. A layup by Wright capped a 10-0 run, and his jumper from the foul line made it 48-28. A three-point basket by Travis Hanour increased the lead to 57-31.

With Woods watching from the bench, Wright went to the basket early, getting six points during the Wildcats’ fast start. But bad shots and turnovers allowed the Beavers to come back and pull to within 24-18 by halftime.

Jason Gardner, who scored only four points on one-of-nine shooting against Oregon, started the second half with a three-point basket, and the Wildcats almost did not miss from then on.

Gilbert Arenas scored 12 points, and Hanour added 11 for Arizona, which shot a season-high 56%.

Arizona is one game out of first place following Stanford’s loss to UCLA.

Oregon State, which lost to Arizona State on Thursday, was outrebounded, 38-19, marking the 16th time in 17 games the Beavers have come up short in that department.

Washington 78, Washington State 72--Thalo Green scored 21 points and freshman Curtis Allen added 18 at Seattle as the Huskies extended Washington State’s conference-record road losing streak to 30 games.

David Dixon, Washington’s 6-foot-11 junior center, made all seven of his shots and finished with 16 points. He played 20 minutes, picking up his fourth foul with 10:47 left and the Huskies ahead, 50-48.

Washington (9-12, 3-6) beat Washington State (8-11, 1-8) for the eighth time in nine games.

The Cougars’ last win in a Pac-10 road game came Jan. 15, 1998, in Corvallis, Ore., against Oregon State.

Framecio Little led the Cougars Saturday with 16 points. Mike Bush and Jerry McNair added 14.