TUCSON, Ariz. -- Two games in and Arizona freshman Lauri Markkanen is already drawing high praise from his coach.Lauris one of the best players in college basketball, Sean Miller said. He is. Hes a monster.The 18-year-old 7-footer from Finland scored 26 points and the 10th-ranked Wildcats held off a furious second-half rally by Cal State Bakersfield for a 78-66 victory on Tuesday night.Jaylin Airington scored 31 for the Roadrunners (1-1) and led a 17-0 run that cut Arizonas lead to four with 9:04 to play. But Markkanen sank a 3-pointer, converted a three-point play and made a short jumper to lead the Wildcats out of trouble.Markkanen is accustomed to such moments.I am used to it, he said. Pretty much my whole life, in big moments, I have the ball in my hands.The already short-handed Wildcats (2-0) were without starting senior guard Kadeem Allen, who sprained a knee in Arizonas 65-63 victory over Michigan State last Friday in Honolulu.Rawle Alkins was 4 for 6 on 3-pointers and scored 15 for the Wildcats and Kobi Simmons added 13. Both also are freshmen.Dedrick Basile added 14 for BakersfieldHaving the opportunity to play a top 10 team is going to give us an opportunity to have some confidence coming out of this game, Roadrunners coach Rod Barnes said.Airington was 10 for 25 from the field, and Miller said its hard to get 25 shots in a college game. It wasnt enough.It was a good individual effort, Airington said, but I wanted to win more than anything.Arizona was up 44-26 at the half and was cruising along when a tip-in by yet another freshman, Keanu Pinder, gave the Wildcats a 53-32 lead with 14:45 to play. Arizona didnt score for the next 6:46.The McKale Center crowd fell into an uncomfortable silence when Damine Durhams basket cut the lead to 53-49 with 9:04 to play.A ruckus under the Arizona basket finally woke the Wildcats up.Chance Comanche went up for a layup and was hit hard by a pair of Bakersfield defenders. Some shoving occurred with Comanche lying on the court and officials called time out to review the incident on video.Taze Moore was called for a flagrant foul one and Comanche ended the long drought by making one of two free throws with 7:59 left. Arizona got the ball out of bounds on the play and Markkanen sank his only 3 of the night to boost the lead to 57-49.Playing small forward on Arizonas big front line, he drove hard down the lane, was fouled and converted a three-point play with 5:51 left and made a short jumper with 5:17 to go, giving the Wildcats a 64-54 lead and they held on from there.Lauris strong, Miller said. Hes not skinny, hes not thin. Hes 18 years old buy physically he can take a pounding and I think that really shows. He doesnt appear to be 7 foot because hes not a rail-thin 7-footer.His pull-ups that he made tonight, watching him go to the free throw line under pressure, hes a special, special player.Hes also a great team player and a good student.I dont think hes got a B at Arizona, Miller said. And practice-wise hes consumed with becoming a great player. Hes one of our teams hardest workers. ... Im so glad we have him.BIG PICTURECal State Bakersfield: The Roadrunners were not cowed by the atmosphere and look like WAC contenders.Arizona: After the opener against a big name school, the young Wildcats fell into a lull with a big lead. That might not have happened if Allen had been available.PLAYER SHORTAGEThe absence of Allen left Arizona with only seven scholarship players with a particular shortage at guard. It got even worse when Jackson-Cartwright got into foul trouble.UP NEXTCal State Bakersfield: returns home to face UC Santa Barbara Saturday night.Arizona: Plays the second of three straight home nonconference game against teams from lesser conferences, facing Sacred Heart on Friday night. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Eagles-Brent-Celek-Jersey/ . -- Josh Sterk scored once and set up two more as the Oshawa Generals edged the visiting Belleville Bulls 3-2 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Eagles-Reggie-White-Jersey/ .Y. - New Orleans forward Anthony Davis was chosen Friday to replace the injured Kobe Bryant in the NBA All-Star game that will be played in his home city. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Eagles-Caleb-Sturgis-Jersey/ . -- The goal posts lying flat on the field, Arizonas fans lingered on the field, congregating around the locker room entrance nearly 30 minutes after rushing out of the stands. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Eagles-Malcolm-Jenkins-Jersey/ . The phone hearing is scheduled for 4:30pm et/1:30pm pt. Winchester, who was not penalized for the hit, appeared to make contact with Kellys head early in the first period of Thursdays game in Boston. http://www.eaglesrookiestore.com/Eagles-Fletcher-Cox-Jersey/ . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. CTV Edmonton also says Pocklington gave a $100,000 cash deposit as part of the conditions of his bail, and that he will be out on bail until his appeal is heard.With the 2013 NHL DRAFT fast approaching, TSN primes fans with four NHL Draft specials leading up to the networks live coverage of all seven rounds on Sunday. TSNs slate of Draft specials include:• BOB MCKENZIES NHL DRAFT RANKING SPECIAL – Tuesday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET• 2013 NHL MOCK DRAFT – Tuesday, June 25 at 8 p.m. ET• NHL DRAFT RETROSPECTIVE: 2003 – Tuesday, June 25 at 8:30 p.m. ET• COUNTDOWN TO THE NHL DRAFT – Thursday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET BOB MCKENZIES NHL DRAFT RANKING SPECIALTuesday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET The 30-minute original TSN production has Hockey Insider and draft expert Bob McKenzie ranking the consensus Top 30 candidates – revealing this years most likely First Round choices at the NHL DRAFT. McKenzie is joined by NHL ON TSN host James Duthie. Over on TSN.ca, the website features McKenzies complete 75-player prospect list, including player bios and TSN Scout Craig Buttons scouting reports. 2013 NHL MOCK DRAFTTuesday, June 25 at 8 p.m. ET The 30-minute show features TSN Scout and former GM Craig Button projecting whom each team will select in the First Round of the 2013 NHL DRAFT. The 2013 NHL MMOCK DRAFT also features interviews with Calgary Flames GM Jay Feaster, who has three First Round picks, and former NHL GM and current Anaheim Ducks scout Brian Burke.dddddddddddd NHL DRAFT RETROSPECTIVE: 2003Tuesday, June 25 at 8:30 p.m. ET TSNs Darren Dutchyshen takes a look back at the 2003 NHL Draft, widely considered the best draft in NHL history with First Round picks including Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, Mike Richards, and Jeff Carter. Additional NHL stars drafted in the First Round include Eric Staal, Nathan Horton, Zach Parise, Ryan Suter, and Dion Phaneuf. The 30-minute special takes fans behind-the-scenes with insight from some of the GMs who made the top picks and trades, along with perspective from Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie and TSN Scout Craig Button. COUNTDOWN TO THE NHL DRAFTThursday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET Hosted by Gino Reda, the 30-minute live special sets the stage for the 2013 NHL DRAFT with insight from Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie, who reviews the TSN Top 10 consensus prospects and unveils his wild card picks. TSN Scout Craig Button provides a scouting report on highly rated Max Domi of the London Knights. Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Stitched Jerseys China Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Store Youth NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Discount NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Camo Jerseys Wholesale NFL White Jerseys Wholesale NFL Camo Jerseys White NFL Jerseys Cheap Camo China NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Jerseys NFL China ' ' '