UCLA
13-11, 6-5
Arizona
16-7, 6-4
UCLA Defeats No. 23 Arizona, 65-52
February 08, 2020 | Men's Basketball
TUCSON, Ariz. – The UCLA men's basketball team won at No. 23 Arizona, 65-52, in a Pac-12 contest on Saturday night before a sell-out crowd of 14,644 at the McKale Center.
UCLA (13-11, 6-5 Pac-12) registered its third consecutive victory at Arizona, limiting the Wildcats to season lows in points and field goal percentage (25.4%).
In fact, the Bruins limited Arizona (16-7, 6-4) to its lowest overall field goal percentage in the history of the McKale Center, an arena that opened in 1973. Previously, Arizona had never shot as low as 32 percent in a game at the McKale Center (and that occurred against Oregon in 1980).
The Bruins used a back-breaking 14-0 scoring run in the second half, turning a one-point lead into a 15-point advantage with five minutes to play. UCLA's defense held the Wildcats without a field goal for nearly 10 minutes in the second half.
"You can't play much better than that," said Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. "We kept them out of transition, made them play five-on-five, took our chances, they missed some good looks. Once we controlled the defensive glass, the game was over, which is hard to do against them."
The Bruins used a team effort on Saturday night, as Chris Smith led the group with 15 points. Tyger Campbell had 12 points and a team-leading five assists.
UCLA shot 51.1 percent from the field, including 52.9 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. In addition, UCLA made 10 of 12 free throws (83.3 percent).
The Bruins entered the game having out-rebounded the opposition in 20 of 23 games. Saturday's result proved no different. UCLA registered a 35-30 rebounding advantaged. Jalen Hill had nine rebounds (and nine points) after having missed Thursday night's game at Arizona State with a sprained right knee (sustained in practice on Wednesday).
The teams began the game trading 3-pointers, with the first six baskets coming from beyond the arc (three from each team).
Smith had two of the first three Bruin 3-pointers. Cody Riley's and-one with 4:43 to play in the first half gave UCLA a 23-21 lead, and Prince Ali's three-pointer at 3:01 put UCLA ahead 26-23.
UCLA took a 29-28 lead into halftime and came out firing in the second half, going on a quick 5-0 run to start the half and outscoring the Wildcats 9-2 in the first four minutes. That spurt put the Bruins ahead of Arizona, 38-30. A jump shot by Smith at the 13:32 mark extended UCLA's advantage to nine points (45-36).
Arizona came roaring back, taking advantage of Riley and Jaime Jaquez Jr. each picking up their fourth fouls to go on an 8-0 run to close to within one, 45-44, with 9:47 to play. But the Bruins answered with an 14-0 run of their own to take a 15-point lead, 59-44, on a David Singleton three-pointer. UCLA ended up with an 18-2 run to move ahead 63-46 with 3:16 to play to put the game out of reach.
UCLA did not play Arizona at the McKale Center last season, but won previous contests in the Wildcats' home arena in Feb. 2018 and Feb. 2017.
Saturday's win marked the Bruins' second victory over a top-25 ranked foe in the last two weeks. The Bruins downed No. 20 Colorado in Los Angeles (72-68) on Thursday, Jan. 30.
UCLA will return home to face Washington State this Thursday evening. Game time is 8 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. The Bruins' game will be televised on Pac-12 Network.
Game Notes: UCLA has won four of its last six games at Arizona's McKale Center, a span that runs from the 2012-13 season through 2019-20 … the two schools didn't face each other at Arizona in 2013-14 or 2018-19 … Arizona has posted a home record of 119-12 over the past eight seasons (2012-13 through 2019-20) … UCLA has handed Arizona four of those 12 losses … the breakdown of Arizona's 12 home losses during that span – UCLA (4), Oregon (2), Arizona State (1), Baylor (1), California (1), Gonzaga (1), Washington (1), Washington State (1) … in addition, the Bruins limited Arizona to an overall field goal percentage of 25.4% (15-for-59) … that marks Arizona's lowest field goal percentage in the history of the McKale Center, an arena that opened late in the 1972-73 season … previously, Arizona had shot as low as 32 percent in a game at the McKale Center (and that occurred against Oregon in 1980).
