Itβs never fair to say one play defines a basketball game, not when there are over 100 possessions, not when a half-dozen NBA players could have taken over with one quick flurry, not when both teams missed wildly from behind the arc and on pedestrian free-throw shooting.
But in a game with as many long-lasting implications as UCLAβs 77-72 win over Arizona on Saturday night at McKale Center, it could be the kind of play that sears itself into the mind of coach Sean Miller and Arizona fans for eternity.
With 16 minutes, 12 seconds left in the second half of a 51-45 score, Bruins fabulous freshman Lonzo Ball dribbled the ball and was met by Arizonaβs Parker Jackson-Cartwright near midcourt. Ball appeared to push off β replays show his arm clearly extended as Jackson-Cartwright was thrust backward β but the Wildcats were called for the foul.
Eight seconds later, Isaac Hamilton hit a 3-pointer, and instead of Arizona potentially being up three possessions with a chance for more padding, UCLA cut the lead to 3.
Eleven minutes later, the Bruins would be up by double figures.
βI donβt think it was one play, I just think the overall physicality throughout the game really hurt us,β Jackson-Cartwright said. βThey made big plays, they made tough shots, thatβs what good teams do.β
And yet β¦
Perhaps the most pivotal aspect of the play was not that Arizona missed a chance at increasing its lead or that UCLA came down and hit a huge longball just seconds later, but this: It wouldβve been Ballβs fourth foul.
And Ball, who would finish with 11 points, eight assists and five rebounds, is the sun in the Bruinsβ solar system.
Miller, though, wasnβt going to complain .
βThere were a number of plays β¦ We had the ball coming out of halftime and we really wanted to go out of a set possession, and it didnβt go well,β Miller said. βWe had a turnover that led to two points for them, and that was the first play of the second half. Those are plays throughout the game that for me (are more important) than who shot the last shot of the game.β
Whatever the changing point in the game, this one could have long-lasting repercussions.
An Arizona win wouldβve gone a long way toward locking up the top seed for the Wildcats in the upcoming Pac-12 Tournament.
βIn two weeks we could find ourselves in Las Vegas playing this very same team, and hopefully weβre more ready,β Miller said.
To their credit, one play or not, the Wildcats seemed ready to move on after the game.
βWeβre thinking bigger picture,β Jackson-Cartwright said. βWeβve just got to move forward. Our season is not over, we know weβre a great team. Weβll take the next couple days to reflect and get better. We have a lot of season left.β
