LOS ANGELES - Bryce Alford scored a team-leading 23 points as UCLA dropped an 87-74 decision to No. 9 Gonzaga before 10,006 in Pauley Pavilion on Saturday night.
Facing their second top-10 ranked opponent in nearly three weeks, the Bruins (8-3) could not overcome a 38-27 halftime deficit to visiting Gonzaga (9-1).
Kyle Wiltjer scored a game-high 24 points for the Bulldogs, who shot nearly 59 percent from the field. Byron Wesley nailed 7 of 8 shots, finishing with 20 points in the Bulldogs’ second consecutive win.
Each team had four double-digit scorers in addition to making 9 of 19 three-point attempts (47 percent). UCLA’s Isaac Hamilton had 18 points while Kevon Looney scored 14 and Norman Powell finished with 12.
“We have had a couple bad starts, but I don’t think this was a bad start,” UCLA head coach Steve Alford said. “I just think we didn’t make shots. This is, in my opinion, the best team we have played all year. We got down 10 points early. They made shots and we didn't make shots, and this is a hard team to get in that kind of hole against.”
Leading 13-10 with 13:35 to play before halftime, Gonzaga used a 13-1 scoring run over the next five minutes to secure a 23-11 advantage at the 8:46 mark. UCLA was able to trim the Bulldogs’ margin to as few as six points – 28-22 – with 4:15 remaining in the first half.
Immediately after halftime, UCLA closed an 11-point gap to six points, taking advantage of a pair of baskets by Hamilton and one free throw from Looney. After reducing Gonzaga’s cushion to 40-34 at the 18:15 mark, the Bulldogs used an 8-0 scoring run over the next 1:33 to lead 48-34.
Gonzaga led by at least 10 points throughout the majority of the second half. UCLA trailed by as few as eight points – 71-63 – with 4:43 to play, before Gonzaga guard Kevin Pangos answered with a 3-point basket on the Bulldogs’ next possession.
UCLA returns to action playing No. 1 Kentucky (11-0) at the United Center in Chicago on Saturday, Dec. 20 in the CBS Sports Classic. The Bruins’ meeting against Kentucky will follow a game that afternoon between North Carolina and Ohio State at the United Center.
Game Notes: Kevon Looney and Bryce Alford have scored in double figures in all 11 games for UCLA … Alford scored at least 20 points for the second time in three games and for the third time this season … Isaac Hamiltonscored in double figures for the seventh time in 11 games … Thomas Welsh logged a season-high three blocks in 15 minutes … the Bruins shot 32 percent in the first half and nearly 52 percent in the second half … Gonzaga (58.5 percent) was UCLA’s first opponent this season to shoot at least 50 percent from the field (previous high was 47.5 percent by Montana State on Nov. 14) … UCLA alum Jimmy Connors sat next to baseball Hall of Famer Dave Winfield, while former UCLA star Jamaal Wilkes was courtside near “Twilight” actor Taylor Lautner.
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