UCLA Edged by No. 17 Arizona, 81-75

Isaac Hamilton scored 24 points in UCLA's game at Arizona on Friday night (photo by Greg Turk)

FEB 12, 2016 | MEN'S BASKETBALL

By: UCLA Athletics

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TUCSON, Ariz. - Isaac Hamilton scored a team-leading 24 points as the UCLA basketball team dropped an 81-75 decision at No. 17 Arizona before 14,644 at the McKale Center on Friday night.

Arizona (20-5, 8-4 Pac-12) overcame a 44-34 halftime deficit, outscoring the Bruins (13-11, 4-7) over the game’s final nine minutes by a 29-16 margin.

Hamilton made 10 of 15 shots from the field and was one of three Bruins to score in double figures along with Bryce Alford (17 points) and Jonah Bolden (10 points).

Arizona’s Allonzo Trier registered a team-leading 18 points for the Wildcats. Ryan Anderson finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds, while Kaleb Tarczewski had nine points and a game-high 14 rebounds. Parker Jackson-Cartwright totaled a career-high 16 points for Arizona.

UCLA entered halftime with a 10-point advantage, having led by as many as 11 points in the opening half.

The host Wildcats steadily reduced UCLA’s advantage in the game’s final 12 minutes. Freshman Prince Alimade a layup while being fouled with 9:14 to play, putting the Bruins ahead 59-52. Arizona followed with an 8-0 scoring run to secure a 60-59 lead at the 7:30 mark, the Wildcats’ first advantage since early in the first half.

UCLA responded with a jump shot from Bolden, giving the Bruins a 61-60 cushion. The next three minutes of the game featured four ties before Arizona claimed the lead for good, 71-70, on a dunk by Tarczewski with 3:10 to play.

The Bruins played the final 10 minutes of the game in foul trouble, as both Tony Parker and Thomas Welshhad fouled out with six minutes remaining.

A three-pointer by Parker Jackson-Cartwright pushed Arizona ahead, 74-70, with 2:32 left, before Gabe York made a layup, drew a foul and made the ensuing free throw to put the Wildcats on top, 78-70.

UCLA closed the gap to 79-75 on a three-pointer from Alford with 26 seconds to go, but the Bruins were unable to draw any closer.

Arizona took advantage of 31 fouls committed by UCLA, making 29 of 45 free throw attempts. The Bruins shot 75 percent from the line, making 12 of 16 free throws.

UCLA returns to action at Arizona State on Sunday, Feb. 14. Game time at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe, Ariz., is slated for 5:30 p.m. (PT)/6:30 p.m. (MT).

Game Notes: Isaac Hamilton has scored at least 10 points in each of UCLA’s last 20 games, the longest such streak by any UCLA player since 2007-08, when freshman Kevin Love scored in double figures in all 39 games … Hamilton scored at least 20 points for the eighth time this season … Jonah Bolden finished with 10 points and six rebounds in his fourth start of the year – he totaled a season-high five made field goals … the Bruins tied their season high for most fouls committed (31, also at Washington on Jan. 1) … UCLA shot 53.1 percent from the field in the first half and concluded the game having shot 46.0 percent.