Matching up with UCLA’s size can be a challenge for most teams, but No. 6 Arizona might have a solution Thursday when it visits the Bruins for a Pac-12 game.
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As a team, the Bruins shot 50 percent (11-of-22) behind the arc, which was a decisive factor in the result.
With 1.8 seconds left he let it fly from beyond the arch. Swish. UCLA survived the scare and won, 87-84.
The victory continued an enigmatic season.
They’ll hope to get leading scorer Bryce Alford back on track following a 2-of-10, nine-point performance against Washington State. They have beaten then top-ranked Kentucky, then-No. 20 Gonzaga and now No. 7 Arizona (13-2, 1-1).
USF 73, San Diego 65: Ronnie Boyce III scored a career-high 22 points, and the Dons (9-6, 3-2 WCC) held off the Toreros (5-9, 0-3) in San Diego.
But they have lost easy games.
Early on, UCLA had shown intensity that had been lacking last weekend in Washington.
From there, UCLA turned to senior big man Tony Parker and junior Bryce Alford, who had combined to shoot 26.5 percent in their last three outings.
On the next possession, Isaac Hamilton drew a foul to stop the momentum. He made the second.
Anderson did his best to see Arizona’s comeback through to the end. He made the first free thow and missed the second. It was a stunning turn of events that quieted the Pauley Pavilion crowd, of which included Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and the rest of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Shortly after the break, UCLA zoomed to its own 10-0 run. Even if he had hit both free throws, Alford’s three would’ve propelled the Bruins to victory anyway. “He dominated the game – 25 points, six assists and no turnovers”.
Hamilton had three 3-pointers while scoring 14 points Thursday.
The 3-pointer by Alford helped UCLA salvage the upset despite blowing a 14-point second-half lead.
Last weekend, Alford could not find his shooting range.
After the game, Alford and a handful of Bruins players considered not only on the impact Westbrook had on Thursday night, but the overarching effect he’s had on the program through his donation – the largest ever by a former Bruins basketball player.
When Arizona cut the deficit to one with a 7-0 run, Holiday twisted his way down the lane for a three-point play. Alright, and you could also make a case that he probably should have been running back on defense instead of starting to strut since there was still time on the clock, but whatever, it was a big shot and in a similar situation I probably would have just started hugging people in the stands.
And Parker finished with14 points and 12 rebounds.
Anderson had 15 points and 15 rebounds, his fifth consecutive double-double, and Tarczewski had 12 points and 12 rebounds in his first extensive use since sustaining a foot injury in late November. Arizona followed his lead late and almost stole a game that was considered over.
Alford pounded the floor.
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Jonah Bolden inbounded the ball to Aaron Holiday, hovering near halfcourt. UCLA looked fairly soft again on the interior, with Kaleb Tarczewski having his way with the post players basically anytime Arizona had the bright idea to throw it into him. Over a stretch of about two minutes in the first half, he assisted Thomas Welsh on a basket with a nice entry pass, made a jumper, stole the inbounds, made a layup, and then a couple of plays later made another jumper.
