It could be the end of the road for a while for Arizona and UCLA, two of the most storied West Coast college basketball programs, and the last two Pac-10/12 programs to raise national championship banners.
The Wildcats and Bruins square off against each other Thursday for likely the last time as conference opponents, unless they meet in the Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas.
After this season, the Wildcats will join the Big 12 while UCLA, which kickstarted the Pac-12's demise alongside USC, will splinter off to the Big Ten.
It's unclear when Arizona and UCLA will play each other again. If it doesn't happen again next week in Vegas, it'll be down the line as nonconference opponents; that hasn't happened since 1977.
Since Arizona joined the Pac-10/12, the Wildcats and Bruins have been among the top West Coast powers in college basketball and have one of the top rivalries in the sport — and the memories have been seemingly endless over four-plus decades.
We picked out 12 memorable games from over the years to highlight the Arizona-UCLA rivalry.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd has some words with a game official for a non-call in the first half against UCLA at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2023.
Tommy Lloyd's 50th win
Date: Jan. 21, 2023
Location: McKale Center
What happened: No. 11 Arizona was forced to grind out a victory over No. 5 UCLA, 58-52 — the first time the Wildcats scored under 60 points in a win under Tommy Lloyd, who reached 50 career wins faster than any head coach in Pac-12 history.
UCLA's Lorenzo Mata applies defense to Arizona's Mustafa Shakur in the second half on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007 at McKale Center. Photo by David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
Lute Olson's last game at McKale Center
Date: Feb. 17, 2007
Location: McKale Center
What happened: Late UA coaching icon Lute Olson’s final game in Tucson as the Wildcats' head coach was an 81-66 loss to UCLA. Bruins point guard Darren Collison recorded 17 points and 15 assists in the win. Olson had a 344-40 (90%) record at McKale Center. Olson finished his Arizona career with a 28-23 record against the Bruins.
Fans storm the court after Arizona defeated No. 3 UCLA 70-69 at McKale Center on Jan. 18, 1979. It was UA’s first win over the Bruins since 1923.
Arizona upsets UCLA to finish sweep of L.A. schools
Date: Jan. 18, 1979
Location: McKale Center
What happened: In Arizona's first official season in the Pac-10, UA forward Larry Demic had 20 points and eight rebounds to lead the Wildcats to a 70-69 win over No. 6 UCLA — the first triumph over the Bruins in 56 years. Coupled with Arizona's win over USC in the same week, sweeping the L.A. schools marked one of the most memorable weeks of the Fred Snowden era.
Arizona's Brian Williams falls to the floor begging for a foul against UCLA at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles in February 1991.
Chris Mills' heroics help Cats win in OT
Date: Feb. 10, 1991
Location: Pauley Pavilion
What happened: Arizona forward and Los Angeles native Chris Mills sunk a buzzer-beating jumper to force overtime, before the fifth-ranked Wildcats outlasted No. 14 UCLA 105-94. Arizona big Brian Williams, who later changed his name Bison Dele and won an NBA championship with the Chicago Bulls in 1997, was 14 for 15 from the field and had 32 points and 14 rebounds.
Arizona coach Sean Miller, right, reacts after being called for a technical foul in the second half against UCLA during the semifinals of the Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament on March 15, 2013, in Las Vegas. UCLA won 66-64.
'He touched the ball'
Date: March 15, 2013
Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena (Las Vegas)
What happened: In one-possession game with less than five minutes left to play, Arizona guard Mark Lyons was stripped by UCLA’s Jordan Adams, but regained possession of the ball and was wrongfully called for double-dribble. Then-Arizona head coach Sean Miller was handed a technical foul for arguing with the official for the miscall. UCLA made a pair of free throws to tie the game, then outlasted the Wildcats. Arizona missed two shots on its final possession to lose.
Said Miller: “The reason I got a technical foul is because I said, ‘He touched the ball. He touched the ball. He touched the ball.’ That’s a hard one now when you work August, September, October, November, December, January, February, and here we are. … By the way, full credit given to UCLA, they did a great job.”
A dejected Salim Stoudamire in the closing minute of overtime against UCLA March 13, 2003.
UCLA stuns No. 1 Arizona in 2003 Pac-10 Tournament
Date: March 13, 2003
Location: Staples Center (Los Angeles)
What happened: After UCLA's worst season in over 60 seasons, the Bruins kept their postseason hopes alive with a 96-89 win over the Wildcats in the first round of the Pac-10 Tournament. Arizona's all-conference guard Jason Gardner shot 0 for 12 from 3-point range and only finished with six points. Led by Jason Kapono's 26 points, UCLA overcame a 15-point deficit and sent the game into overtime courtesy of guard Ray Young's tying 3-pointer.
Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller calls his players including Arizona Wildcats guard Kadeem Allen (5) and Arizona Wildcats guard Kobi Simmons (2) in for a timeout during the second half of the No. 4 Arizona Wildcats vs. No. 5 UCLA Bruins men's college basketball game on Feb. 25, 2017, in McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. UCLA won 77-72.
First Top-5 battle between Cats and Bruins
Date: Feb. 25, 2017
Location: McKale Center
What happened: Arizona beat UCLA at Pauley Pavilion earlier in the season after guard Allonzo Trier returned from a 19-game suspension following testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug. In the regular-season finale, with ESPN's "College GameDay" in town, No. 4 Arizona lost to No. 5 UCLA 77-72 in the only matchup with the Wildcats and Bruins both ranked in the Top 5. Arizona guard Kadeem Allen had a chance to tie it, but air-balled a 3-point attempt. The Wildcats won the rubber match the following week in the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals round.
Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd, center, celebrates after the Wildcats defeated UCLA in the 2022 Pac-12 Tournament championship game in Las Vegas.
Tommy Lloyd's first Pac-12 Tournament title game
Date: March 12, 2022
Location: T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas)
What happened: Starting point guard Kerr Kriisa was held out with an ankle injury. His replacement, graduate transfer Justin Kier, got into foul trouble, so Arizona relied on small forwards Dalen Terry and Pelle Larsson to facilitate the offense with the Wildcats down two point guards. Freshman Adama Bal, who had only played in pinches throughout the season leading up to the game, made two 3s that helped Arizona overcome a 12-point deficit. The Wildcats went on a 22-5 run en route to the win. Arizona star Bennedict Mathurin was named Most Outstanding Player of the Pac-12 Tournament.
Arizona players celebrate after defeating UCLA in the championship game of the Pac-12 Men's Basketball Tournament on March 11, 2023, in Las Vegas.
Cats double-down in Las Vegas
Date: March 11, 2023
Location: T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas)
What happened: Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis' Pac-12 Player of the Year bid fell short, but he avenged the loss of his personal accolade with a 19-point, 14-rebound performance in the conference title game. Tubelis helped the Wildcats win back-to-back conference tournament championships for the first time since the 1990 and 2002 titles. The Pac-10 discontinued the conference tournament after the 1990 season, before bringing it back in '02. Arizona's 2017 and '18 Pac-12 Tournament championships were stripped due to an NCAA infractions case.
Arizona’s Salim Stoudamire encourages the McKale Center student section to cheer during the Wildcats’ 76-73 win over rival UCLA on Jan. 15, 2005, in Tucson. Stoudamire scored 24 of Arizona’s final 29 points, including a deep, deep 3 with time winding down to give the UA the upper hand.
Salim Stoudamire splashes 3 to put away Bruins
Date: Jan. 15, 2005
What happened: With the game tied at 73, Salim Stoudamire passed the half-court stripe, took six dribbles and squared up for a deep game-winning 3-pointer to beat UCLA 76-73. Hassan Adams stole the ensuing inbounds pass to seal the win. The left-handed Stoudamire scored 24 of Arizona's final 29 points to help the Wildcats rally to beat a Bruins team led by Dijon Thompson's double-double (27 points, 10 rebounds) and guards Jordan Farmar and Aaron Afflalo who combined for 28 points.
Tracey Murray of UCLA hugs Darrick Martin after Martin sunk a buzzer-beater at UCLA at Arizona basketball at McKale Center on Jan. 11, 1992. UCLA won, breaking a 71-game UA win streak at McKale. Rick Wiley / Tucson Citizen
UCLA snaps Arizona's 71-game winning streak in Tucson
Date: Jan. 11, 1992
Location: McKale Center
What happened: Arizona’s longest winning streak at McKale Center ended at 71 games after UCLA outlasted the Wildcats 89-97. Darrick Martin hit the game-winner over Arizona star guard Damon Stoudamire at the buzzer. UCLA star Don MacLean led the way with 38 points. Arizona's winning streak began on Dec. 4, 1988, against Long Beach State.
University of Arizona Coach Lute Olson checks out Sean Elliott’s hairdo after Elliott broke the Pac-10 scoring record against UCLA on Feb. 18, 1989.
Sean Elliott breaking Lew Alcindor's scoring record
Date: Feb. 18, 1989
Location: McKale Center
What happened: Sean Elliott, the most decor basketball player in Tucson history, scored 35 points to break Lew Alcindor’s Pac-10 scoring record in a 102-64 thumping of UCLA — the school for which Alcindor, who later changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, once played. Elliott ended his Arizona career with 2,555 points.
UCLA head coach Mick Cronin blamed officiating for the Bruins frittering away a 19-point lead in Arizona's 77-71 win on Saturday at McKale Center. (Video by Justin Spears / Arizona Daily Star)
Arizona men's basketball players Oumar Ballo and Pelle Larsson speak on their team's performance after the Wildcats defeated UCLA 77-71 at McKale Center on Jan. 20, 2024. (Video courtesy Arizona Athletics)
Arizona men's basketball coach Tommy Lloyd speaks on his team's performance after the Wildcats defeated UCLA 77-71 at McKale Center on Jan. 20, 2024. (Video courtesy Arizona Athletics)
