No. 7 Arizona grinds out 76-66 win over No. 3 UCLA
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) Arizona's offense, after flowing so well in the first half, hit a Bruins wall in the second. Good looks were hard to come by, every pass contested, the stretch without a field exceeding five minutes.
In stepped Kerr Kriisa. The Estonian guard who missed all 12 of his shots the first go-round against UCLA, calmly sank a 3-pointer with two minutes left, allowing the Wildcats space enough to pull out a hard-fought win.
Kriisa scored 16 points and hit that big 3-pointer, Dalen Terry flirted with a triple-double and No. 7 Arizona grinded out a 76-66 win over No. 3 UCLA on Thursday night.
''Playing at UCLA was good, gave him some battle scars, so to speak,'' Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said of Kriisa. ''Now he's a little more grizzled, a little tougher, and that's super important.''
Shut down by UCLA nine days earlier, the Wildcats (18-2, 8-1 Pac-12) had a good offensive flow in the first half, building a 12-point lead that stretched to 17 in the second.
The Bruins (16-3, 8-2) turned up the defensive pressure and slowed the game in the second half to chip the lead down to three. Kriisa soon answered with a 3 - Arizona's only field goal in the final 7:04 - to make it 70-61 and the Wildcats made six straight free throws in the final 1:25 to win the rematch.
Kriisa threw the ball into the student section to celebrate the home win after being blown out in Southern California.
''Obviously, we were thinking about it,'' said Terry, who finished with 10 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. ''I'm glad we came out on top and we were able to do it at home.''
UCLA gave Arizona nearly everything it wanted offensively in the first half, then took most of it away in the second. The Bruins cut a 17-point deficit to three with just under four minutes left, but missed some key shots down the stretch.
Jules Barnard scored 15 points for UCLA and Johnny Juzang had 12 after missing two games in COVID-19 protocols.
''They had better energy, especially to start the game,'' UCLA coach Mick Cronin said. ''Defensively, we didn't get the job done and they got comfortable. You can't let them get comfortable offensively.''
UCLA won the first meeting 75-59 at Pauley Pavilion on Jan. 23 by slowing the pace and shutting down one of the nation's top offenses.
Arizona got back to its free-flowing, fast-cutting ways against the Bruins early in the rematch. The Wildcats worked the hi-low for a couple of early baskets and hit consecutive 3s to cap a 12-0 run to go up 28-14 midway through the first half.
Arizona kept flowin' and scorin,' shooting 15 of 25 to lead 42-30 at halftime.
UCLA, after a good offensive start, struggled with Arizona's pressure and aggressive switching. The Bruins labored to get good looks and shot 1 of 9 from behind the 3-point arc.
''We got a lot of good looks,'' Cronin said. ''They just weren't falling.''
Bennedict Mathurin had the defensive highlight of the first half, rising up to block Bernard's dunk attempt in transition and bringing the crowd to its feet with him.
Scoring was a little more difficult for the Wildcats in the second half, yet they were able to push back the Bruins nearly every time they tried to make a run, keeping the lead near double digits.
UCLA's pressure finally started to wear down Arizona late in the second half. The Bruins held the Wildcats without a field goal for more than five minutes and used a 7-0 run to pull within 64-61.
Arizona wouldn't let them any closer, with Kriisa's 3 keying a strong finish.
BIG PICTURE
UCLA couldn't slow the Wildcats in the first half, but was able to dictate the pace better in the second. It still wasn't enough.
Arizona was at its offensive best in the first half, then labored against UCLA's pressure but found a way to win. Beat No. 19 Southern California on Saturday and the Wildcats could find themselves back in the top 5 in Monday's poll.
TUBELIS' NIGHT
UCLA had a hard time stopping Azoulas Tubelis early, particularly on hi-low plays. The Arizona big man had 10 points in the first half and four more in the opening 2 1/2 minutes of the second.
Then he sat. Going with a defensive lineup that included 7-footers Christian Koloko and Oumar Ballo, Lloyd opted to keep Tubelis on the bench over the final 10:01. He finished with 14 points and five rebounds.
''Sometimes you just get a feel for something and ride it out,'' Lloyd said. ''That defensive lineup is tough.''
Ballo and Koloko combined for five of their seven blocked shots in the second half.
UP NEXT
UCLA: Plays at Arizona State on Saturday.
Arizona: Hosts No. 19 USC on Saturday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Cody Riley vs. Christian Koloko (Jaime Jaquez Jr. gains possession) | |||
19:46 | Johnny Juzang turnover (bad pass) (Christian Koloko steals) | |||
19:32 | Azuolas Tubelis misses two point layup | |||
19:30 | Cody Riley defensive rebound | |||
19:19 | +2 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. makes two point turnaround jump shot | 2-0 | |
19:02 | Kerr Kriisa misses three point jump shot | |||
19:00 | Jules Bernard defensive rebound | |||
18:54 | Jules Bernard misses three point jump shot | |||
18:52 | Christian Koloko defensive rebound | |||
18:41 | +2 | Azuolas Tubelis makes two point layup (Dalen Terry assists) | 2-2 | |
18:19 | Johnny Juzang misses two point jump shot | |||
18:17 | Christian Koloko defensive rebound | |||
18:11 | +2 | Kerr Kriisa makes two point driving layup | 2-4 | |
17:41 | +2 | Cody Riley makes two point jump shot (Jaime Jaquez Jr. assists) | 4-4 | |
17:30 | +2 | Azuolas Tubelis makes two point layup (Christian Koloko assists) | 4-6 | |
17:14 | Azuolas Tubelis personal foul (Cody Riley draws the foul) | |||
17:13 | Kerr Kriisa personal foul (Johnny Juzang draws the foul) | |||
17:05 | +2 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. makes two point layup | 6-6 | |
16:58 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. personal foul (Azuolas Tubelis draws the foul) | |||
16:51 | +2 | Azuolas Tubelis makes two point jump shot (Kerr Kriisa assists) | 6-8 | |
16:32 | Christian Koloko shooting foul (Cody Riley draws the foul) | |||
16:32 | +1 | Cody Riley makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 7-8 | |
16:32 | +1 | Cody Riley makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 8-8 | |
16:14 | Cody Riley shooting foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul) | |||
16:14 | Oumar Ballo misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
16:14 | +1 | Oumar Ballo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 8-9 | |
15:59 | Oumar Ballo kicked ball violation | |||
15:59 | TV timeout | |||
15:53 | +2 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. makes two point step back jump shot | 10-9 | |
15:34 | Johnny Juzang shooting foul (Bennedict Mathurin draws the foul) | |||
15:34 | Bennedict Mathurin misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
15:34 | Bennedict Mathurin misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
15:34 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. defensive rebound | |||
15:23 | Azuolas Tubelis blocks Tyger Campbell's two point jump shot | |||
15:21 | Bennedict Mathurin defensive rebound | |||
15:06 | +2 | Oumar Ballo makes two point layup (Dalen Terry assists) | 10-11 | |
14:42 | Jules Bernard misses three point jump shot | |||
14:40 | Azuolas Tubelis defensive rebound | |||
14:33 | +2 | Azuolas Tubelis makes two point layup (Dalen Terry assists) | 10-13 | |
14:18 | Tyger Campbell misses three point jump shot | |||
14:16 | Dalen Terry defensive rebound | |||
14:08 | Oumar Ballo misses two point jump shot | |||
14:06 | Oumar Ballo offensive rebound | |||
14:01 | Jump ball. Oumar Ballo vs. Cody Riley (Wildcats gains possession) | |||
13:51 | +3 | Dalen Terry makes three point jump shot (Justin Kier assists) | 10-16 | |
13:30 | Johnny Juzang misses three point jump shot | |||
13:28 | David Singleton offensive rebound | |||
13:22 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. misses three point jump shot | |||
13:20 | Dalen Terry defensive rebound | |||
13:11 | Justin Kier misses three point jump shot | |||
13:09 | Cody Riley defensive rebound | |||
13:05 | +2 | Johnny Juzang makes two point layup (Tyger Campbell assists) | 12-16 | |
12:48 | Oumar Ballo misses two point hook shot | |||
12:46 | Cody Riley defensive rebound | |||
12:33 | Bennedict Mathurin personal foul (Johnny Juzang draws the foul) | |||
12:28 | +2 | Johnny Juzang makes two point jump shot | 14-16 | |
12:05 | Kerr Kriisa misses two point jump shot | |||
12:03 | Johnny Juzang defensive rebound | |||
11:46 | David Singleton misses three point jump shot | |||
11:44 | Bennedict Mathurin defensive rebound | |||
11:37 | Myles Johnson shooting foul (Pelle Larsson draws the foul) | |||
11:37 | TV timeout | |||
11:37 | Pelle Larsson misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
11:37 | +1 | Pelle Larsson makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 14-17 | |
11:13 | Justin Kier personal foul (Peyton Watson draws the foul) | |||
11:08 | Johnny Juzang misses three point jump shot | |||
11:06 | Bennedict Mathurin defensive rebound | |||
10:55 | Bennedict Mathurin misses two point jump shot | |||
10:53 | Johnny Juzang defensive rebound | |||
10:46 | Johnny Juzang misses two point jump shot | |||
10:44 | Myles Johnson offensive rebound | |||
10:40 | David Singleton misses two point jump shot | |||
10:38 | Bennedict Mathurin defensive rebound | |||
10:21 | +2 | Bennedict Mathurin makes two point floating jump shot (Kerr Kriisa assists) | 14-19 | |
10:21 | Myles Johnson shooting foul (Bennedict Mathurin draws the foul) | |||
10:21 | +1 | Bennedict Mathurin makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 14-20 | |
10:00 | Christian Koloko blocks Cody Riley's two point layup | |||
9:58 | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | |||
9:55 | Johnny Juzang personal foul (Azuolas Tubelis draws the foul) | |||
9:53 | +2 | Christian Koloko makes two point dunk (Justin Kier assists) | 14-22 | |
9:50 | Bruins 30 second timeout | |||
9:36 | Jake Kyman misses two point jump shot | |||
9:34 | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | |||
9:24 | +3 | Kerr Kriisa makes three point jump shot (Justin Kier assists) | 14-25 | |
9:06 | Tyger Campbell misses two point jump shot | |||
9:04 | Azuolas Tubelis defensive rebound | |||
8:56 | +3 | Justin Kier makes three point jump shot (Kerr Kriisa assists) | 14-28 | |
8:28 | +3 | Jules Bernard makes three point jump shot (Jaime Jaquez Jr. assists) | 17-28 | |
8:20 | Kerr Kriisa turnover (bad pass) (Jules Bernard steals) | |||
8:13 | Jules Bernard misses two point jump shot | |||
8:11 | Azuolas Tubelis defensive rebound | |||
8:11 | Azuolas Tubelis turnover (lost ball) (Jules Bernard steals) | |||
8:10 | +2 | Jules Bernard makes two point layup | 19-28 | |
8:10 | Azuolas Tubelis shooting foul (Jules Bernard draws the foul) | |||
8:10 | Jules Bernard misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
8:10 | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | |||
7:53 | Justin Kier turnover (bad pass) (Cody Riley steals) | |||
7:45 | Jules Bernard misses two point layup | |||
7:43 | Justin Kier defensive rebound | |||
7:41 | Justin Kier turnover (traveling) | |||
7:41 | TV timeout | |||
7:29 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. misses two point layup | |||
7:27 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. offensive rebound | |||
7:10 | Jules Bernard misses two point jump shot | |||
7:08 | Dalen Terry defensive rebound | |||
6:44 | +3 | Kerr Kriisa makes three point pullup jump shot | 19-31 | |
6:13 | Christian Koloko blocks Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s two point layup | |||
6:11 | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | |||
6:07 | Tyger Campbell personal foul (Kerr Kriisa draws the foul) | |||
6:07 | +1 | Kerr Kriisa makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 19-32 | |
6:07 | Kerr Kriisa misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
6:07 | Myles Johnson defensive rebound | |||
5:49 | +2 | Jules Bernard makes two point turnaround jump shot | 21-32 | |
5:27 | Dalen Terry misses three point jump shot | |||
5:25 | Christian Koloko offensive rebound | |||
5:24 | Peyton Watson personal foul (Christian Koloko draws the foul) | |||
5:24 | Christian Koloko misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
5:24 | Myles Johnson defensive rebound | |||
5:02 | Peyton Watson turnover (lost ball) | |||
4:56 | Kerr Kriisa misses three point jump shot | |||
4:54 | Oumar Ballo offensive rebound | |||
4:54 | Peyton Watson personal foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul) | |||
4:54 | Oumar Ballo misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
4:54 | +1 | Oumar Ballo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 21-33 | |
4:39 | Cody Riley misses two point jump shot | |||
4:37 | Bennedict Mathurin defensive rebound | |||
4:26 | +2 | Azuolas Tubelis makes two point layup (Kerr Kriisa assists) | 21-35 | |
3:55 | Jules Bernard misses two point layup | |||
3:53 | Jules Bernard offensive rebound | |||
3:50 | +2 | Jules Bernard makes two point putback layup | 23-35 | |
3:36 | Tyger Campbell personal foul (Kerr Kriisa draws the foul) | |||
3:36 | TV timeout | |||
3:36 | +1 | Kerr Kriisa makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 23-36 | |
3:36 | +1 | Kerr Kriisa makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-37 | |
3:23 | +2 | Tyger Campbell makes two point driving layup | 25-37 | |
3:12 | Azuolas Tubelis turnover (3-second violation) | |||
3:00 | Tyger Campbell misses two point layup | |||
2:58 | Dalen Terry defensive rebound | |||
2:42 | +2 | Bennedict Mathurin makes two point reverse layup | 25-39 | |
2:42 | Jules Bernard shooting foul (Bennedict Mathurin draws the foul) | |||
2:42 | +1 | Bennedict Mathurin makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 25-40 | |
2:19 | Tyger Campbell misses three point jump shot | |||
2:17 | Dalen Terry defensive rebound | |||
2:12 | +2 | Pelle Larsson makes two point layup (Dalen Terry assists) | 25-42 | |
1:45 | +2 | Jules Bernard makes two point driving layup | 27-42 | |
1:45 | Kerr Kriisa shooting foul (Jules Bernard draws the foul) | |||
1:45 | +1 | Jules Bernard makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 28-42 | |
1:31 | Pelle Larsson turnover (bad pass) (Jaime Jaquez Jr. steals) | |||
1:28 | Bennedict Mathurin blocks Jules Bernard's two point dunk | |||
1:26 | Bruins offensive rebound | |||
1:16 | Christian Koloko personal foul (Cody Riley draws the foul) | |||
1:16 | +1 | Cody Riley makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 29-42 | |
1:16 | +1 | Cody Riley makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-42 | |
0:59 | Bennedict Mathurin misses three point jump shot | |||
0:57 | Myles Johnson defensive rebound | |||
0:33 | Jules Bernard turnover (bad pass) (Bennedict Mathurin steals) | |||
0:22 | Wildcats 30 second timeout | |||
0:02 | Wildcats turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
0:00 | End of period |