LOS ANGELES - Kyle Anderson and Jordan Adams each registered double-doubles in UCLA's 79-75 loss to No. 1-ranked Arizona before 13,283 in Pauley Pavilion on Thursday night.
Anderson led the way for the Bruins (12-3, 1-1) with 16 points and 11 rebounds, while Adams logged 12 points and a career-high 11 rebounds.
UCLA was looking for its first victory against the nation’s top-ranked team since March 13, 2003, when the Bruins toppled Arizona in overtime in the Pac-10 Conference Tournament at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
But on Thursday evening, these Bruins were not hanging their heads.
''I'm not one for moral victories, but we did fight hard,'' Anderson said, giving his team credit for playing better than it did in an 80-71 loss at Missouri (Dec. 7) and a 17-point setback against Duke in New York (Dec. 19).
''The other two losses were bad losses,” Anderson said. “We kind of shut down when we were down.''
Nick Johnson scored 22 points to lead the Wildcats (16-0, 3-0), who blew a 13-point lead with 6:16 to play. Arizona committed a season-worst 17 turnovers and nearly got beaten on the boards (37-36) for the first time this season.
''We're not far off,'' UCLA head coach Steve Alford said. ''We know that. Although this loss hurts, there's encouragement to come out of this.''
Freshman Zach LaVine hit a 3-pointer that got UCLA to 77-75 with 15 seconds left, but he missed another one with two seconds to go that would have left the Bruins down one.
''I liked our fight tonight,'' Alford said. ''We didn't get beat by an average team because we threw the ball all over the place. We had nine turnovers. We got a lot of energy from the crowd, and that was very good.''
Buoyed by loud chants of ''U of A'' in sold-out Pauley Pavilion, the Wildcats pulled away to a 12-point lead midway through the second half after UCLA kept it close in the first 20 minutes. Arizona led by as many as 13 points with 6:16 to play in regulation.
Arizona starters Aaron Gordon, Brandon Ashley and T.J. McConnell all played with four fouls in the second half.
Kaleb Tarczewski made all six of his field goal attempts and scored 16 points for the Wildcats, who snapped a three-game skid against the Bruins in the lone regular-season meeting between the longtime conference powers.
Johnson's dunk gave Arizona its largest lead of the game, 68-55.
That's when the Bruins reeled off a 15-1 run, including 13 consecutive points, to take their last lead at 70-69.
Adams hit a 3-pointer for a 68-all tie. Adams, Anderson and Bryce Alford combined to outscore the Wildcats, who made just one free throw during that stretch. Alford finished with 12 points.
The Wildcats were limited to one field goal over the final 1:27, when they went 8 of 10 from the free throw line to hang on for the victory.
The Bruins' 75 points were the most scored by an Arizona opponent this season. They missed five straight free throws before their big run.
''They were crucial,'' Anderson said. ''We will get to the free throw line in practice and fix that.''
Arizona led 42-38 at the break, hitting three 3-pointers over the final 2:56, when UCLA twice tied the game.
Retired Lakers coach Phil Jackson and Clippers coach Doc Rivers attended the game, along with former Bruins Baron Davis, Jordan Farmar and Ryan Hollins. Injured Lakers guard Steve Nash, actor John Lithgow, who sat with Jackson, and Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea were there, too.
UCLA will return to action against Arizona State on Sunday, Jan. 12. Game time in Pauley Pavilion is 7 p.m. Sunday night’s game will be nationally televised on ESPNU.
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