Red/Blue game results in tie

TUCSON, Ariz. - Junior forward Chase Budinger led all scores with 17 points in the annual Red-Blue Game Saturday afternoon in McKale Center.

The intra-squad scrimmage was halted with 5:21 remaining in the second half, as interim head coach Russ Pennell decided to end the game knotted at 46 after several players began to cramp. Pennell also practiced the team Saturday morning.

The scrimmage was the public's first chance to see Pennell and the 2008-09 edition of the men's basketball team.

Play was rather sloppy throughout the first half with each team trading a myriad of missed baskets, turnovers and fouls.

Had the refs been enforcing total fouls, four players would have fouled out including freshman guard Kyle Fogg, who led all Wildcats with seven personal fouls.

Junior forward Jordan Hill had a mistake-plagued first half, committing four traveling violations and finished the game with nine total turnovers. Hill led the Red team with 14 points and five rebounds.

"I thought we were very careless with the ball in the first half," said Pennell. "The turnovers we had were not forced. As a coach you can live with that because they are correctable mistakes."

Some bright spots for the Cats included freshman guard Garland Judkins' ability to get to the basket, while Fogg connected from long distance, hitting two three-pointers late in the first half.

Pennell originally had planned to play 10 minutes in the second half due to the 90-minute morning practice. The Arizona interim roamed each side of the court offering critiques while his assistants took the helm of each respective team.

Junior guard Nic Wise did not suit up due to an ankle injury sustained in practice.

The Wildcats return to action with a home exhibition contest against Incarnate Word on Thursday, Nov. 6. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. MST. Fans can call (520) 621-CATS or log on to www.arizonaathletics.com for tickets.