Bryce Alford's trey helps UCLA upset No. 6 Arizona in Pac-12 thriller
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bryce Alford scored 25 points, hitting a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds left that gave UCLA an 87-84 victory over No. 6 Arizona on Thursday night for the Bruins' first Pac-12 win after opening league play with consecutive road losses.
Aaron Holiday added 15 points, Isaac Hamilton had 14 points and Tony Parker had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Bruins (10-6, 1-2). They lost to the Washington schools last weekend.
Alford hit five 3-pointers and Hamilton added three of UCLA's 11 — a season-high against the Wildcats.
Ryan Anderson had 15 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Wildcats (13-2, 1-1), who had their eight-game winning streak snapped. Allonzo Trier added 13 points and Kaleb Tarczewski had 12 points and 12 rebounds in his second game back from a foot injury.
The Bruins opened the second half with a 16-9 run to go ahead 59-45. They ran off 10 straight points, including back-to-back 3-pointers by Alford and Hamilton, for their largest lead of the game.
Arizona tied it at 83 on a three-point play by Kadeem Allen, capping a 10-0 run in the closing two minutes. Allen easily got by UCLA big man Thomas Welsh for a dunk after Trier hit a 3-pointer in the spurt.
Hamilton got fouled, missing the first and making the second for an 84-83 lead. Hamilton fouled Anderson on a drive, and he made the first and missed the second, tying the game at 84 with 14 seconds to go.
Alford got free for a 3-pointer to preserve the victory for the Bruins, who shot a season-high 52 percent against Arizona.
Alford hit consecutive 3-pointers to end the first half with the Bruins leading 43-36. Arizona's only lead of one point in the first half came on a 3-pointer by Parker Jackson-Cartwright before the Bruins outscored the Wildcats 10-2 to end the half.
TIP-INS
Arizona: The Wildcats' six-game streak of scoring 80 or more points ended. ... Tarczewski has 1,004 points in his four-year career. ... The Wildcats are starting Pac-12 play with three straight road games for the first time since 1994-95.
UCLA: It was Russell Westbrook Night, honoring the former Bruins standout and four-time NBA All-Star for his major financial contribution to the school's basketball practice facility currently under construction. That gym's court will be named for Westbrook. Kevin Durant and the rest of Westbrook's Thunder teammates were on hand. Fans received eyeglass frames, a nod to Westbrook's eyewear for postgame news conferences. ... Former UCLA coach Jim Harrick and Hall of Famer Lute Olson, who coached the Wildcats, sat next to each other.
UP NEXT
Arizona: Visits Southern California on Saturday.
UCLA: Hosts Arizona State on Saturday.
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