The Arizona Wildcats dropped their second game in a row, falling 81-76 to UCLA at McKale Center Saturday night.
The Bruins have now won their last four games against Arizona and have beaten the Wildcats in each of their last four trips to Tucson.
These numbers explain why Arizona lost a key conference matchup against its West Coast rival.
7
With 3:35 left to play, the Wildcats trailed 71-69. Over the final stretch, the Cats missed seven shots and scored just seven points as the Bruins were able to pull away late.
Down by two possessions in the final minute, Arizona had no choice but to foul UCLAβs shooters. A James Akinjo 3-pointer cut the deficit to 79-76 with six seconds left, but Tyger Campbell knocked down a pair of free throws to secure the win.
22
UCLA guard Tyger Campell tied his season-high with 22 points on 7 of 10 shooting and shot a perfect 8 for 8 from the free throw line. Fourteen of Campbellβs 22 came in the first half and the Bruins guard, including a stretch where he scored 12 consecutive points against the Cats.
25
Akinjo bounced back after a 0-for-8 performance Thursday and responded with 25 points, the most heβs scored this year. Akinjo has been the engine thatβs powered Arizona β which ranks as the Pac-12 highest scoring team β and he made 8 of his 16 shots against the Bruins while knocking down four 3βs.
UA coach Sean Miller said Akinjo played βgreatβ and added, βI donβt think we could have asked much more from him.β
27
Arizona committed 25 fouls and the Bruins were able to turn that into 27 made free throws on 32 attempts.
βWe are a horrible defensive team,β Miller said. βFouling is off the charts right now.β
The Wildcats have also given up 80 or more points in three straight conference games.
4
Following a career-best 31-point night vs. USC, Azuolas Tubelis came out strong again offensively. The freshman scored 11 points in the first half against UCLA. The Lithuanian freshman couldnβt keep the momentum going in the second half as he was stymied for just four points 2 of 6 shooting.
Miller attributed that to different looks the UCLA defense showed him as well as the inability for Azuolas to get to the foul line.
Photos: UCLA outlasts Wildcats for fourth straight win in McKale Center
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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UCLA guard Jules Bernard (1) elbows his way over Arizona guard Terrell Brown Jr. (31) on a drive into the paint in the first half of their Pac 12 basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 9, 2021.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona forward Jordan Brown (21) picks up the foul from UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) on his put-back attempt in the first half of their Pac 12 basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 9, 2021.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona guard Jemarl Baker Jr. (3) wraps up UCLA guard Jules Bernard (1) trying to get to a pass in the first half of their Pac 12 basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 9, 2021.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona guard Bennedict Mathurin (0) tests the lane against UCLA guard Johnny Juzang (3), center, and forward Cody Riley (2)in the first half of their Pac 12 basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 9, 2021.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) loses the fight for a rebound UCLA forward Kenneth Nwuba (14) in the first half of their Pac 12 basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 9, 2021.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona head coach Sean Miller reacts after a Wildcats miscue against UCLA in the second half of their Pac 12 basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 9, 2021.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (4) gets a bucket despite the hand of Arizona forward Ira Lee (11) in the second half of their Pac 12 basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 9, 2021.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona guard James Akinjo (13) gets bounced between UCLA forward Kenneth Nwuba (14) and guard Jules Bernard (1) on his drive in the second half of their Pac 12 basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 9, 2021.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona guard Bennedict Mathurin (0) hammers home a put-back dunk over UCLA guard Johnny Juzang (3) in the second half of their Pac 12 basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 9, 2021.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona guard James Akinjo (13) gestures after nailing a three over the UCLA defense in the second half of their Pac 12 basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 9, 2021.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) pulls a rebound out of the reach of UCLA guard Johnny Juzang (3) in the second half of their Pac 12 basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 9, 2021.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona guard James Akinjo (13) manages to keep control from the lunge of UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) in the second half of their Pac 12 basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 9, 2021.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona forward Jordan Brown (21) loses the fight for a rebound to UCLA guard Jules Bernard (1) and forward Cody Riley (2) in the second half of their Pac 12 basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 9, 2021.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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UCLA head coach Mick Cronin disputes a call against the Bruins that sent Arizona to the line for three free throws in the second half of their Pac 12 basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 9, 2021.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona guard Jemarl Baker Jr. (3) looks for help as the entire UCLA defense surrounds him in the lane in the first half of their Pac 12 basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 9, 2021.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona head coach Sean Miller and one of the game officials don't see eye-to-eye on a call during the first half against UCLA at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 9, 2021.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona forward Jordan Brown (21) stacks up UCLA guard Jake Kyman (13), left, and forward Cody Riley (2) on his drive to the basket in the first half of their Pac 12 basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 9, 2021.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona guard James Akinjo (13) gets only a handful of hair and the foul while trying to stop UCLA guard Tyger Campbell's (10) baseline runner in the first half of their Pac 12 basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 9, 2021.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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UCLA forward Kenneth Nwuba (14) wins the fight for a rebound from Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) in the first half of their Pac 12 basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 9, 2021.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona center Christian Koloko (35) takes an elbow to the chops trying to defend against UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (4) in the second half of their Pac 12 basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 9, 2021.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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Arizona center Christian Koloko (35) gets his short range jumper dialed in as the Wildcats prepare to go against UCLA at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 9, 2021.
