Arizonaโs fizzling defense cost the Wildcats their 12-game home court winning streak in a 82-74 loss to UCLA on Thursday at McKale.
The Wildcats allowed the Bruins to shoot 51.6 percent from the field and hit 11 of 23 3-pointers, despite mixing in some zone and pressure into their shaky man-to-man.
It was the fourth time in their past five games that the Wildcats had allowed 44 percent or better shooting, and the highest percentage from the field they have allowed in Pac-12 play other than to Colorado.
Aaron Holiday led UCLA with 17 points and eight assists, while G.G. Goloman scored a career-high 16 points in a spot start for the Bruins. Deandre Ayton had 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead UA.
Arizona (19-6, 9-3) had won all its home games since losing to UCLA in their homecourt finale last season. The loss also marked the first time the Wildcats have lost consecutive games since their 0-3 showing in the November Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in the Bahamas.
UCLA improved to 17-7 and 8-4, having gained a significant bargaining chip for NCAA Tournament consideration.
UCLA took a 15-point lead midway through the second half when Thomas Welsh scored inside over Allonzo Trier. Three-pointers from Trier and Parker Jackson-Cartwright later cut the Bruinsโ lead to 69-60 but a 3-pointer in the corner from G.G. Goloman made it 72-60.
By the time Kris Wilkes hit a 3-pointer to give the Bruins a 79-67 lead with 2:54 left, the McKale Center crowd quieted and fans began to leave shortly afterward.
Trailing 44-34 at halftime, UA quickly trimmed six points off the deficit by hitting 5 of 6 shotws to start the half while holing UCLA to 2-of-10 shooting through the first four minutes.
But the Wildcats gave it all back just as quickly, with open 3-pointers hit by G.G. Goloman and Kris Wilkes to give UCLA a 54-44 lead and, when Wilkes marched inside for an easy layup, the Bruins took a 56-44 lead and prompted UA coach Sean Miller to call a timeout.
In the first half, Hands made three 3-pointers within the final 54 seconds while the Bruins tore through the Arizona defense and took a 44-34 halftime lead.
The Bruins, who made all eight of their final field goals before halftime, made 6 of 12 3-pointers and shot 56.3 percent from the field in the first half.
Hands led UCLA with 11 points and three rebounds, while Aaron Holiday added nine points and three assists. Deandre Ayton had eight points and seven rebounds to lead Arizona.
Until the Bruins finished the half on a 9-1 run, it was a one-possession game for much of the half. Dylan Smith hit his second 3-pointer of the game to give the Wildcats a 23-20 lead with 7:21 to go.
Then, after Deandre Ayton slammed in a dunk off a rebound of Rawle Alkinsโ miss, giving UA a 27-24 lead, the Wildcats gave up an open 3-pointer in the corner by UCLAโs Thomas Welsh that tied it at 27. But Holiday made a layup to give UCLA a 32-31 lead and the Bruins kept the lead the rest of the half.
The Wildcats set themselves up for trouble again by stumbling to another rough start. They trailed 8-3 at the first media timeout while making just 1 of 6 shots and turning the ball over twice while allowing UCLA to make 4 of 8 shots.
But they quickly shot themselves back in the game, hitting four of their next five, the last a 3-pointer from Parker Jackson-Cartwright that cut UCLAโs lead to 14-13 with 11:42 to go. UA extended the run to 9-0, taking a 17-14 lead with 10:41 left in the half.
