Arizona Loses Without Stoudamire

There’s a new No. 2 in the Pacific 10.

Tre Simmons had a career-high 22 points Thursday night as surging Washington held off No. 17 Arizona, 89-84, and moved ahead of the Wildcats into second place in the conference.

The Wildcats were playing without leading scorer Salim Stoudamire, suspended by Coach Lute Olson “for failure to meet team responsibilities.”

After opening 0-5 in the conference, the Huskies (14-10, 9-6 Pac-10) have won nine of 10 in conference play, including a sweep of Arizona, and nine of 11 overall.

It was Washington’s first victory at McKale Center since 1996 and only the second victory in 20 tries at Tucson.

“This is the biggest win of the year,” Washington Coach Lorenzo Romar said. “Beating Arizona on the road, and in a game that put us in second place alone, it is a pretty big game.”

Washington opened a 10-point lead in the second half and withstood a rally by the Wildcats who were down to six players from their regular rotation. The depth problem worsened when point guard Mustafa Shakur was benched with foul trouble.

Washington’s Nate Robinson had 18 points, Hakeem Rollins scored 14 -- all in the second half -- and Brandon Roy had 12.

“We are on a mission right now,” Roy said. “The mission is to go to the NCAA tournament. I feel if we finish second, we should get an automatic bid.”

Channing Frye had 25 points and nine rebounds for Arizona (17-8, 9-7), but he missed two key shots down the stretch.

Stoudamire, who was on the bench in street clothes, said he expected to play against Washington State, but Olson said he doubted that Stoudamire would be reinstated by Saturday.