TUCSON, Ariz. - Jordan Hill had 20 points and 14 rebounds and No. 21 Arizona pulled away to beat stubborn Oregon State 76-63 in the teams' Pac-10 opener on Thursday night.

Arizona's Jordan Hill (43) and Oregon State's Omari Johnson (24) struggle for a rebound in the first half of a college basketball game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz., Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008. (AP Photo/Wily Low)

Nic Wise, starting in place of injured freshman point guard Jarryd Bayless, scored 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting. He had 12 points in the second half when the Wildcats (10-3) rallied from a seven-point deficit.

Chase Budinger of the Wildcats missed seven of his first eight shots then came alive late for 11 points over the final six minutes to finish with 20.

Hill, a 6-foot-10 sophomore, was 8-for-11 from the field, 5-for-6 in the second half.

Freshman Omari Johnson, playing just his fifth game after missing the first 13 with an injured right cheekbone, scored a season-best 19 for the Beavers (6-7), while Seth Tarver added 13.

Bayless, Arizona's leading scorer at 18.5 points per game, missed his second straight game with a sprained right knee. He is expected to sit out Saturday's game against Oregon.

Hill scored seven points in a decisive 12-3 run that put the Wildcats ahead 59-51. Budinger capped the outburst with a 3-pointer, just his second basket in nine shots.

Oregon State didn't have starter C.J. Giles, who was benched reportedly for being late to practices. The Beavers led 42-35 with 13 minutes remaining.

But Arizona picked up the tempo in a 9-0 run to take its first lead since the opening minutes, 47-44, on Daniel Dillon's 3-pointer with 11:10 to play. Budinger started the spurt with four field goals, then Wise's fastbreak basket tied it at 44-44.

Arizona had one field goal in a 4 1/2-minute span late in the first half. Hill's inside basket cut the lead to 27-25 with 2:17 to play, but Roeland Schaftenaar made a 3-pointer, then Calvin Hampton scored inside to put Oregon State up 32-25 1:17 before the half.

Jawann McClellan made one of two free throws to cut the lead to 32-26 at halftime.

Oregon State hasn't won at Arizona since 1983.