Brandon Williams, Randolph shine as Arizona beats Chaminade in final exhibition

The Arizona Wildcats go as the Brandons go.

Brandon Williams scored 23 points and Brandon Randolph chipped in with 19, leading Arizona past a pesky Chaminade team, 75-64, in its second and final exhibition.

Williams tallied 14 points in the first half and Randolph posted 15 in the second half, each carrying the offense for stretches at a time.

They finished a combined 15 for 28 from the field, buoying a Wildcats team that struggled to put away the NAIA Silverswords.

Arizona, which shot 45 percent and got outrebounded 36-35, trailed by eight with 16 minutes left before breaking out with a 10-0 run to retake the lead.

Chaminade continued to hang around, but Randolph scored 12 points in a four-minute stretch to put Arizona up 10 with 3:55 left, icing the game with a 3.

Randolph was 4 for 5 from 3. Williams was 4 for 8, making the first four he took. Arizona was 11 for 25 from 3 as a team, another solid shooting night.

The Wildcats re-used the same starting lineup as the first exhibition and got off to a slow start, while Chaminade was hot from the outside and grabbed a 13-6 lead thanks to a trio of 3s.

That’s when Williams caught fire, leading the Wildcats on a 13-0 run, though Arizona only led 31-29 at the half. It then missed four its first five shots after halftime and turned the ball over three times, allowing Chaminade to roar to a 40-32 lead.

Justin Coleman had 14 points, scoring 10 in the second half, aiding Williams and Randolph in the comeback effort.

Chase Jeter returned from injury but battled foul trouble, only playing 17 minutes off the bench. The Duke transfer grabbed six rebounds but turned the ball over three times and missed three free throws, finishing with just one point.

Ryan Luther, who had seven points and four rebounds, also dealt with foul trouble early in the second half, so Arizona played small as it cut into Chaminade’s second-half lead.

Alex Barcello scored five points during UA’s 10-0 run, including a 3. Devonaire Doutrive did not play and it seems Barcello has him beat for the ninth spot in the rotation right now, though that is surely subject to change.

The Wildcats open the regular season Wednesday against Houston Baptist.

This story will be updated.

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