TUCSON, Ariz. — Arizona coach Kevin O'Neill had a warning for the Wildcats before they met underdog Fresno State.

"I told our team before the game, we're a growing team, and when you're a growing team you don't want to have any setbacks," O'Neill said.

The 21st-ranked Wildcats responded with a 69-50 victory yesterday for their fourth straight victory.

Jerryd Bayless scored 21 points, Chase Budinger added 16 points, and Jordan Hill finished with 15 points and nine rebounds for the Wildcats (7-2).

Arizona played for the second time since coach Lute Olson announced he would extend his personal leave of absence through the end of the season. In the first game, Arizona spotted Illinois a 12-0 lead in Chicago before rallying for a 78-72 overtime victory.

Yesterday's game tipped off at 1 p.m., and with most students gone for the holidays, the typically raucous McKale Center had a sleepy feel. On a greaseboard in Arizona's locker room, coaches wrote: "Don't ease into the game. Be ready and into it from the start."

The Wildcats ignored the advice and trailed 17-15 midway through the first half.

"We are an ease-in group," O'Neill said.

But Arizona responded with a 20-2 run to take a 35-19 halftime lead and end any thoughts the Bulldogs had of pulling off an upset.

"We came out in the first half and were doing what we needed to," said Fresno State guard Kevin Bell, who led the Bulldogs with 12 points. "But then we stopped."

The Bulldogs stopped, but Bayless was only getting started. During the 20-2 run, he made three 3-pointers and jammed off an alley-oop pass from Nic Wise.

"I started making some shots," Bayless said. "I made my first one, and my teammates kept getting the ball to me."

Early in the second half, Bayless brought the crowd to its feet with a between-the-legs pass to Jamelle Horn, who dunked. Bayless said he wasn't afraid of incurring O'Neill's wrath with the showboat move.

"K.O. gets mad if you don't complete the play," Bayless said. "If you do something fancy and the ball gets turned over, you're dead."

NO. 1 N. CAROLINA 93, RUTGERS 71

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Ty Lawson scored a career-high 26 points and Tyler Hansbrough had 20 points and 11 rebounds before leaving when he hit his head as the Tar Heels (9-0) beat the Scarlet Knights (7-4). Hansbrough tried to take a charge from Earl Pettis with 5:47 to play. Hansbrough went to the floor in a sitting position and then hit the back of his head against the bottom of the basket support. Hansbrough was taken to a hospital for precautionary measures.

NO. 14 TEXAS A&M 64, ARK.-PINE BLUFF 37

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Josh Carter scored 16 points and the Aggies (9-1) used stifling defense to rout the Golden Lions (4-6). The Aggies held Arkansas-Pine Bluff scoreless for nearly 10 minutes to start the game.

NEVADA 86, CENTRAL FLORIDA 74

RENO, Nev. — Marcelus Kemps scored 24 points and Brandon Fields added 22 as the Wolf Pack (5-4) held off the Knights (5-5). JaVale McGee added 15 points and 18 rebounds as Nevada extended its winning streak to three games.

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