No. 11 Arizona ends No. 5 UCLA's 14-game win streak
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) Arizona spent the first half banging bodies with UCLA and the closing seconds desperately trying to hang on against the Bruins' press.
Even through that, the Wildcats kept their composure and came out with what may be their most impressive win of the season.
Oumar Ballo scored 16 points, Azuolas Tubelis had a double-double and No. 11 Arizona withstood a late rally to end No. 5 UCLA's 14-game winning streak with a 58-52 victory on Saturday.
''You've got to you got to be able to win multiple ways,'' Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. ''Other than that last minute while we were trying to ride out that lead, I think we were comfortable the whole time, which is a good sign.''
The Wildcats (17-3, 5-3 Pac-12) appeared to be cruising to victory, taking a 56-44 lead on Ballo's alley-oop dunk with 2:07 left.
The Bruins (17-3, 8-1) fought back, creating four straight turnovers to pull within 56-52. UCLA then blocked consecutive shots - one after a review waved off goaltending - but couldn't convert on two shots of its own.
Arizona's Pelle Larsson hit two free throws with 0.9 seconds to close it out. Tubelis triggered an 11-3 run to give Arizona a 10-point early in the second half, and finished with with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
''I think we proved today that we can win low-scoring,'' said Arizona point guard Kerr Kriisa, who had seven points. ''Everyone keeps talking about our offense, our offense, our offense, but nobody realizes how good our defense is.''
The Bruins do.
UCLA matched its longest winning streak since 2007-08 on Thursday by pulling away late to beat Arizona State 74-62. The Bruins had a lot more trouble with Arizona, particularly at the offensive end.
UCLA shot 31% and went 4 of 20 from 3-point range to lose as a top-5 team at McKale Center for the second straight season. Tyger Campbell led the Bruins with 13 points and Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 12 with 11 rebounds.
''When you struggle offensively, something with the other team's defense caused it,'' UCLA coach Mick Cronin said. ''Even if it's open shots, they got you sped up just enough, rattled just enough, so you have to give the other team credit.''
Arizona beat then-No. 3 UCLA last season in a charged atmosphere that included an assault citation for UCLA forward Mac Etienne after he appeared to spit in the direction of Arizona fans while leaving the court.
On Saturday, the Bruins and Wildcats went toe to toe in the paint and perimeter, bodies bouncing off the floor in a physical, defensive afternoon. The Bruins banged on Ballo and Tubelis in the post on every touch, creating numerous close-range misses - and plenty of fouls.
UCLA backup big man Kenneth Nwuba had four fouls in the first half and Ballo made 8 of 10 free throws to score 12 first-half points.
Arizona hit 7 of 23 shots and was the better-shooting team, taking a 26-23 halftime lead.
The Wildcats quickly pushed the lead to 10 in the second half and kept their offensive flow going, the lead at least nine until the final two minutes.
The Bruins made a final push, flustering the Wildcats with their press while scoring eight straight points. Down 56-52, UCLA got the ball back after a review overturned a goaltending call, but Campbell and Jaquez both missed contested shots at the rim before Larsson's closing free throws.
''At UCLA, we play with heart and intestinal fortitude, and I don't think we played to win,'' Cronin said. ''I didn't think we played hard until the game was over.''
BIG PICTURE
UCLA: Pushed the Wildcats around early and created havoc with their defensive pressure late. In between, the Bruins didn't hit enough shots to leave the desert with a win.
Arizona: Weathered UCLA's bumping and banging in the first half, then withstood a furious rally to earn the type of win that should move it back into the top 10.
BRUINS' BOARDS
UCLA repeatedly beat Arizona on the offensive glass, earning several shots on multiple possessions.
The Bruins had trouble converting those chances into points.
UCLA had an 18-8 advantage in offensive rebounds, but was limited to nine second-chance points.
''We knew their bigs are really good players, but maybe not proficient finishers, so you've just got to stay in the play,'' Lloyd said.
UP NEXT
UCLA: At rival USC on Thursday.
Arizona: Plays at Washington State on Thursday.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20:00 | Â | Adem Bona vs. Oumar Ballo (Kerr Kriisa gains possession) | Â | |
19:46 | Â | Cedric Henderson Jr. turnover (bad pass) | Â | |
19:35 | +2 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. makes two point jump shot (Jaylen Clark assists) | 2-0 | |
19:24 | Â | Adem Bona shooting foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul) | Â | |
19:24 | +1 | Oumar Ballo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 2-1 | |
19:24 | +1 | Oumar Ballo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-2 | |
19:05 | Â | Jaylen Clark misses two point jump shot | Â | |
19:03 | Â | Azuolas Tubelis defensive rebound | Â | |
19:00 | Â | Kerr Kriisa turnover (bad pass) | Â | |
18:32 | +3 | Jaylen Clark makes three point jump shot (Kenneth Nwuba assists) | 5-2 | |
18:06 | Â | Kerr Kriisa misses three point jump shot | Â | |
18:02 | Â | Bruins defensive rebound | Â | |
17:48 | Â | Azuolas Tubelis shooting foul (Jaylen Clark draws the foul) | Â | |
17:48 | +1 | Jaylen Clark makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 6-2 | |
17:48 | +1 | Jaylen Clark makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 7-2 | |
17:38 | Â | Oumar Ballo turnover (traveling) | Â | |
17:23 | Â | Jaylen Clark misses two point jump shot | Â | |
17:21 | Â | Kerr Kriisa defensive rebound | Â | |
17:21 | +2 | Azuolas Tubelis makes two point layup (Kerr Kriisa assists) | 7-4 | |
17:21 | Â | David Singleton shooting foul (Azuolas Tubelis draws the foul) | Â | |
17:18 | +1 | Azuolas Tubelis makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 7-5 | |
17:02 | Â | David Singleton misses three point jump shot | Â | |
17:00 | Â | Kenneth Nwuba offensive rebound | Â | |
16:44 | Â | Tyger Campbell misses two point jump shot | Â | |
16:42 | Â | Jaylen Clark offensive rebound | Â | |
16:39 | +2 | Jaylen Clark makes two point layup | 9-5 | |
16:23 | +2 | Oumar Ballo makes two point hook shot | 9-7 | |
15:50 | Â | Jaime Jaquez Jr. misses two point jump shot | Â | |
15:48 | Â | Wildcats defensive rebound | Â | |
15:47 | Â | Kenneth Nwuba personal foul | Â | |
15:47 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
15:28 | Â | Kerr Kriisa misses two point jump shot | Â | |
15:26 | Â | Oumar Ballo offensive rebound | Â | |
15:21 | Â | Oumar Ballo misses two point layup | Â | |
15:19 | Â | Tyger Campbell defensive rebound | Â | |
15:05 | Â | Jaylen Clark misses three point jump shot | Â | |
15:03 | Â | Bruins offensive rebound | Â | |
15:01 | Â | Will McClendon turnover (Pelle Larsson steals) | Â | |
14:54 | Â | Pelle Larsson misses three point jump shot | Â | |
14:52 | Â | Jaime Jaquez Jr. defensive rebound | Â | |
14:42 | Â | Tyger Campbell misses three point jump shot | Â | |
14:40 | Â | Kerr Kriisa defensive rebound | Â | |
14:39 | Â | Kenneth Nwuba personal foul (Kerr Kriisa draws the foul) | Â | |
14:24 | Â | Jaime Jaquez Jr. shooting foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul) | Â | |
14:24 | +1 | Oumar Ballo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 9-8 | |
14:24 | Â | Oumar Ballo misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | Â | |
14:24 | Â | Jaime Jaquez Jr. defensive rebound | Â | |
14:05 | +2 | Will McClendon makes two point jump shot (Tyger Campbell assists) | 11-8 | |
13:40 | Â | Oumar Ballo misses two point jump shot | Â | |
13:38 | Â | Jaime Jaquez Jr. defensive rebound | Â | |
13:20 | Â | Cedric Henderson Jr. shooting foul (Jaime Jaquez Jr. draws the foul) | Â | |
13:20 | +1 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 12-8 | |
13:20 | Â | Jaime Jaquez Jr. misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | Â | |
13:20 | Â | Pelle Larsson defensive rebound | Â | |
13:05 | Â | Azuolas Tubelis turnover (lost ball) (Jaylen Clark steals) | Â | |
12:44 | Â | Jaime Jaquez Jr. turnover (traveling) | Â | |
12:24 | Â | Pelle Larsson misses two point layup | Â | |
12:22 | Â | Jaylen Clark defensive rebound | Â | |
12:05 | Â | Dylan Andrews misses two point jump shot | Â | |
12:03 | Â | Bruins offensive rebound | Â | |
11:56 | Â | Jaime Jaquez Jr. misses two point jump shot | Â | |
11:54 | Â | Azuolas Tubelis defensive rebound | Â | |
11:38 | Â | Azuolas Tubelis misses two point layup | Â | |
11:36 | Â | Jaime Jaquez Jr. defensive rebound | Â | |
11:33 | Â | Jaylen Clark turnover (traveling) | Â | |
11:33 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
11:15 | +2 | Oumar Ballo makes two point layup (Pelle Larsson assists) | 12-10 | |
10:39 | Â | Tyger Campbell misses two point jump shot | Â | |
10:37 | Â | Jaylen Clark offensive rebound | Â | |
10:31 | +2 | Jaylen Clark makes two point layup | 14-10 | |
10:23 | Â | Oumar Ballo turnover (David Singleton steals) | Â | |
10:17 | Â | David Singleton misses three point jump shot | Â | |
10:15 | Â | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | Â | |
9:59 | +3 | Kerr Kriisa makes three point jump shot (Kylan Boswell assists) | 14-13 | |
9:23 | Â | Jaylen Clark turnover (Kylan Boswell steals) | Â | |
9:06 | Â | Kerr Kriisa misses three point jump shot | Â | |
9:04 | Â | Will McClendon defensive rebound | Â | |
8:48 | Â | Will McClendon misses three point jump shot | Â | |
8:46 | Â | Azuolas Tubelis defensive rebound | Â | |
8:37 | Â | Oumar Ballo misses two point layup | Â | |
8:35 | Â | Jaylen Clark defensive rebound | Â | |
8:30 | +2 | Adem Bona makes two point dunk (Tyger Campbell assists) | 16-13 | |
8:08 | Â | Adem Bona shooting foul (Pelle Larsson draws the foul) | Â | |
8:08 | Â | Jaylen Clark technical foul | Â | |
8:08 | +1 | Kerr Kriisa makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 16-14 | |
8:08 | +1 | Oumar Ballo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-15 | |
8:08 | +1 | Oumar Ballo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-16 | |
7:55 | Â | Cedric Henderson Jr. personal foul | Â | |
7:55 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
7:50 | Â | Kenneth Nwuba offensive foul | Â | |
7:50 | Â | Kenneth Nwuba turnover (offensive foul) | Â | |
7:42 | Â | Azuolas Tubelis misses two point layup | Â | |
7:40 | Â | Azuolas Tubelis offensive rebound | Â | |
7:37 | Â | Azuolas Tubelis misses two point layup | Â | |
7:35 | Â | Kenneth Nwuba defensive rebound | Â | |
7:29 | Â | Dylan Andrews misses three point jump shot | Â | |
7:27 | Â | Kylan Boswell defensive rebound | Â | |
7:21 | Â | Kylan Boswell misses three point jump shot | Â | |
7:19 | Â | Bruins defensive rebound | Â | |
6:56 | Â | Dylan Andrews misses three point jump shot | Â | |
6:54 | Â | Azuolas Tubelis defensive rebound | Â | |
6:46 | Â | Courtney Ramey misses three point jump shot | Â | |
6:44 | Â | Jaime Jaquez Jr. defensive rebound | Â | |
6:28 | +2 | Tyger Campbell makes two point jump shot (Kenneth Nwuba assists) | 18-16 | |
6:07 | +2 | Pelle Larsson makes two point layup | 18-18 | |
5:51 | Â | Jaime Jaquez Jr. misses three point jump shot | Â | |
5:49 | Â | Kerr Kriisa defensive rebound | Â | |
5:30 | Â | Azuolas Tubelis misses two point jump shot | Â | |
5:28 | Â | Jaime Jaquez Jr. defensive rebound | Â | |
5:10 | +2 | Tyger Campbell makes two point jump shot (Jaime Jaquez Jr. assists) | 20-18 | |
4:53 | Â | Azuolas Tubelis offensive foul (Kenneth Nwuba draws the foul) | Â | |
4:53 | Â | Azuolas Tubelis turnover (offensive foul) | Â | |
4:35 | Â | Pelle Larsson personal foul (Jaylen Clark draws the foul) | Â | |
4:26 | Â | Tyger Campbell misses two point layup | Â | |
4:24 | Â | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | Â | |
4:19 | Â | Cedric Henderson Jr. misses three point jump shot | Â | |
4:17 | Â | David Singleton defensive rebound | Â | |
3:53 | Â | David Singleton misses two point jump shot | Â | |
3:51 | Â | Jaylen Clark offensive rebound | Â | |
3:43 | Â | Jaylen Clark misses two point jump shot | Â | |
3:46 | Â | Oumar Ballo defensive rebound | Â | |
3:36 | +3 | Courtney Ramey makes three point jump shot | 20-21 | |
3:07 | +2 | Jaime Jaquez Jr. makes two point jump shot (Tyger Campbell assists) | 22-21 | |
2:56 | Â | Kenneth Nwuba personal foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul) | Â | |
2:56 | Â | TV timeout | Â | |
2:56 | +1 | Oumar Ballo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-22 | |
2:56 | Â | Oumar Ballo misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | Â | |
2:56 | Â | Jaylen Clark defensive rebound | Â | |
2:30 | Â | Tyger Campbell misses two point jump shot | Â | |
2:28 | Â | Courtney Ramey defensive rebound | Â | |
2:21 | +2 | Pelle Larsson makes two point layup (Courtney Ramey assists) | 22-24 | |
2:06 | Â | Courtney Ramey personal foul (Tyger Campbell draws the foul) | Â | |
1:59 | Â | Jaime Jaquez Jr. misses two point jump shot | Â | |
1:57 | Â | Cedric Henderson Jr. defensive rebound | Â | |
1:51 | Â | Cedric Henderson Jr. turnover (traveling) | Â | |
1:32 | Â | Jaylen Clark misses two point jump shot | Â | |
1:30 | Â | Bruins offensive rebound | Â | |
1:18 | Â | Jaylen Clark misses two point jump shot | Â | |
1:16 | Â | Mac Etienne offensive rebound | Â | |
1:02 | Â | Jaime Jaquez Jr. misses two point jump shot | Â | |
1:00 | Â | Cedric Henderson Jr. defensive rebound | Â | |
1:00 | Â | Mac Etienne personal foul (Oumar Ballo draws the foul) | Â | |
1:00 | +1 | Oumar Ballo makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 22-25 | |
1:00 | +1 | Oumar Ballo makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-26 | |
0:34 | Â | Oumar Ballo shooting foul (Jaylen Clark draws the foul) | Â | |
0:34 | Â | Jaylen Clark misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | Â | |
0:34 | +1 | Jaylen Clark makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 23-26 | |
0:31 | Â | Wildcats 30 second timeout | Â | |
0:09 | Â | Kerr Kriisa misses three point jump shot | Â | |
0:07 | Â | Mac Etienne defensive rebound | Â | |
0:00 | Â | End of period | Â |