UCLA
Arizona
Bruins Tame Wildcats In Overtime, 79-77
February 15, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 15, 2001
Postgame Audio
By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Hurting with a sprained ankle, yet fresh from not practicing all week, Dan Gadzuric surprised his own UCLA teammates with the game of his career.
Gadzuric scored 22 points and grabbed 17 rebounds as 24th-ranked UCLA upset No. 8 Arizona 79-77 in overtime Thursday night.
Gadzuric tied his career highs after missing practice and spending most of the week on crutches because of the left ankle he sprained in a victory at DePaul on Saturday.
Doctors cleared him to play in the afternoon, so he chucked the walking boot he'd been using for a day.
"I just totally forgot about my ankle," said Gadzuric, who had tape running from his ankle to his knee to secure the injury. "I concentrated on good position and not fouling."
All week long, UCLA said Gadzuric was doubtful to play, let alone start, but he endured 41 of the 45 minutes as the Bruins won their fifth straight.
"I'm speechless, really," Matt Barnes said of Gadzuric's play.
Arizona coach Lute Olson had plenty to say.
"I thought Gadzuric played better than any player we've played against all year long," he said. "I saw him in prep school and thought he might be ready for the NBA."
After Richard Jefferson missed for Arizona at the buzzer, students poured out of the bleachers and mobbed the players at center court to celebrate UCLA's third consecutive victory over a ranked Pac-10 team.
"We're a scary team," said Jason Kapono, who was held to a career-low four points in last month's loss at Arizona. "When we have all five guys clicking, we're pretty good."
Back in the Top 25 this week for the first time in 11 weeks, the Bruins beat then-No. 1 Stanford and then-No. 22 Southern California on the road.
"It says we're on the way, but we still have a lot to work on," Gadzuric said. "It shows we're one of the elite teams. We just don't get the respect we deserve."
Earl Watson hit a 3-pointer and Gadzuric scored two big baskets in overtime, but the Wildcats still had a chance.
UCLA led 79-77 when Jason Gardner fouled Gadzuric, whose first free throw was an airball. After a timeout, Gadzuric missed the second. He then fouled Jefferson, who missed both free throws but grabbed the rebound and missed again as time expired.
"I saw them (UCLA) tip it before I got to it," Jefferson said of his rebound. "I figured they tip it, ball gets to me, I tried to get it back up, but just missed it. I should have been more aware and just taken my time."
Kapono added 20 points and Barnes had 16 points and 10 rebounds for UCLA (16-6, 9-2 Pac-10), which knocked Arizona (17-7, 9-3) out of second place in the conference.
Gilbert Arenas scored 25 of his career-high 30 points in the second half and in overtime for Arizona, which beat UCLA by 25 points in Tucson last month.
"Gadzuric had a great game. He can play when he wants to," Arenas said. "He really showed it tonight."
UCLA appeared to have the game in hand with a 13-point lead midway through the second half against a team that owned four straight wins over the Bruins.
But the Wildcats clawed back, thanks to the sharpshooting of Arenas. He had 13 points in a 24-8 run that put Arizona back in front 59-56 with 4:20 remaining.
The game was tied four times in the final 3:52.
With the game tied at 66, Barnes stole the ball, but had his shot blocked at the other end. Jefferson dunked on the fast break to put the Wildcats ahead by two with 44 seconds remaining.
Gadzuric scored on a short jumper and drew Loren Woods into his fifth foul for a tie at 68. Gadzuric missed the free throw and the Wildcats grabbed the rebound.
After a timeout, the Wildcats fought through UCLA's press, but Arenas' final shot sailed over the top of the basket to force overtime.
The Bruins went into the five-minute overtime with four fouls each on Kapono, Watson and Barnes, but they outscored Arizona 11-9.
Arizona's Lamont Frazier was ejected after earning two technical fouls within nine seconds in the second half.
