Arizona guard T.J. McConnell (4) shoots over Oregon center Michael Chandler (25) during the second half of the No. 7 Arizona Wildcats vs. Oregon Ducks men's college basketball game on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2015, in Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore. Arizona won 80-62. 

 Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star

It wasn’t an accident that UA senior point guard T.J. McConnell scored a UA-career high 21 points Thursday at Oregon. The Ducks chose to open the game by deploying freshman Casey Benson on McConnell. Benson is a three-star recruit from Tempe Corona del Sol High School. But Arizona didn’t recruit Benson, who was offered scholarships by ASU, Washington State, USC and Oregon State. McConnell has played 4,084 minutes in his college career; Benson was at 343 when Thursday’s game began. McConnell took advantage quickly, scoring seven points in the first 4 minutes 48 seconds as Arizona led 15-4. Benson couldn’t effectively guard McConnell, and the Ducks never caught up. 

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