Tucson, AZ (Sports Network) - Chase Budinger scored a game-high 25 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists, as No. 17 Arizona slipped past Northern Arizona, 76-69, in the first game for the Wildcats this season.

The season opener tipped off without Lute Olson on the Arizona bench. The 73- year-old head coach took an indefinite leave of absence for undisclosed reasons, and assistant coach Kevin O'Neill will run the team in his absence.

Jerryd Bayless scored 18 points and Jawann McClellan added 15 points for Arizona (1-0), which connected on just 38.3 percent of its shots from the floor and 6-of-22 from beyond the arc.

Nate Geiser and Kyle Landry each led the Lumberjacks (1-1) with 17 points. Landry also grabbed eight rebounds as Northern Arizona outrebounded the Wildcats, 39-31.

Arizona held a 41-30 lead at the half, but the Lumberjacks slowly worked their way back into the contest. Bayless' layup with 15:22 on the clock pushed Arizona's lead to 56-41, and Nic Wise's three-pointer gave the Wildcats a 66-50 advantage with 9:16 to go.

The Lumberjacks then embarked on a 13-0 spurt to close the gap to three points. Geiser drained back-to-back threes and Ryan McCurdy's layup made the score 66-58. Landry's jumper and subsequent three-point play capped the stretch with five minutes to play.

Budinger followed with a pair of free throws, and after another Landry jumper, McClellan converted from in close for a 70-65 game with 1:57 left. Landry made two free throws, but Jordan Hill responded with a layup to push the edge back to five.

Holding a tenuous 72-69 lead with under one minute left, Budinger drew a foul and made both free throws and McClellan blocked Geiser's shot to preserve the victory.

Game Notes

Arizona leads the all-time series 90-27 and has won the last 24 meetings...The Lumberjacks committed 15 turnovers to just five for the Wildcats...Arizona registered seven blocks.