National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
UCLA 87, Arizona 84
When: 9:00 PM ET, Thursday, January 7, 2016
Where: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, California
Officials: # Dick Cartmell, # Verne Harris, # Keith Kimble
Attendance: 12026

LOS ANGELES -- On a night when UCLA recognized Russell Westbrook for his "significant" financial gift to the basketball program, Bryce Alford pulled a Westbrook to give the Bruins another significant victory.

The junior guard scored 25 points and made five 3-pointers, and his 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds remaining broke a tie in the Bruins' 87-84 upset victory over the No. 7 Arizona Wildcats at Pauley Pavilion on Thursday.

"The shot was right in front of Russ," UCLA coach Steve Alford said. "It couldn't have been a more perfectly scripted night.

"We kind of got our mojo back. This is a game we had to have."

Alford's deep 3-pointer from the right wing came over Arizona 7-footer Kaleb Tarczewski, who switched out when guard Kadeem Allen lost Alford on a screen.

"I love being in that situation," Bryce Alford said. "Even in my driveway, I would have my mom count down from five seconds, and I would shoot until I would make it."

Alford had six assists, four rebounds and no turnovers in 34 minutes.

"We wanted the ball in Bryce's hands," Alford said. "I think that's our guy, when it comes to making sure we get a shot. We wanted to run-and-roll and let him make the play, make the decision.

"We got a switch, and he did the right thing. I like that matchup, Bryce against the center. He loves the step-back play."

Center Tony Parker had 14 points and a season-high 12 rebounds, his fourth double-double of the season, as the Bruins (10-6, 1-2 Pac-12) held off a late Arizona charge.

The Wildcats (13-2, 1-1) trailed 81-68 after an Alford 3-pointer with 4:22 remaining but went on a 15-2 run capped by five points from Allen to tie the game with 42.1 seconds remaining.

UCLA guard Isaac Hamilton made one of two free throws with 21.7 seconds left for an 84-83 lead before Arizona forward Ryan Anderson made one of two free throws with 14.8 seconds remaining to tie it, setting up the final Bruins possession.

"We didn't (want to) switch Kaleb Tarczewski on Bryce Alford," Arizona coach Sean Miller said. "You literally have to be out of your mind to do that. But we did our own thing on the last play, and he shot the easiest shot he's ever taken in Pauley Pavilion on a game-winner.

"If Bryce Alford had a different last name and played for a different team, in my opinion, the accolades and the respect he would get nationally would be far more than he gets right now. He dominated the game."

UCLA guard Aaron Holiday had 15 points as the Bruins beat a second top-10 opponent at home this season. They defeated then-No. 1 Kentucky 87-77 on Dec. 3.

Hamilton had three 3-pointers while scoring 14 points Thursday.

Anderson had 15 points and 15 rebounds, his fifth consecutive double-double, and Tarczewski had 12 points and 12 rebounds in his first extensive use since sustaining a foot injury in late November.

UCLA made 11 of 22 3-point attempts and shot 51.6 percent from the field.

"We could not defend their perimeter guys," Miller said. "My biggest concern is, our team is terrible on defense.

"This is the worst defensive team that I've coached at Arizona since my first year. We have too many people on the team right now who pick and choose how they are supposed to do things. We have one way we do things on defense."

Arizona gave up 12 of the first 18 points and led for only 27 seconds the entire game, that when guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright hit a 3-pointer for a 34-33 lead with 2:45 left in the first half. Tarczewski had a follow shot, two free throws, an offensive rebound and an assist during that run.

Alford hit two 3-pointers in the final 39 seconds of the half to give UCLA a 43-36 lead.

NOTES: Russell Westbrook, who played two seasons at UCLA, was given a video tribute at halftime, and led the crowd in the traditional "eight clap" cheer. The court at the UCLA practice facility will be named in his honor. ... All five UCLA starters were averaging at least 10 points a game coming in, led by junior G Bryce Alford (16.9). Freshman G Aaron Holiday, brother of New Orleans Pelicans G Jrue Holiday, was fifth (10.4). ... Arizona and UCLA won all six games against common opponents Gonzaga, Long Beach State and UNLV this season. Both won by five points at Gonzaga, Arizona on Dec. 5 and UCLA on Dec. 12. ... Arizona, which moved up one spot to No. 7 this week, has been ranked in 68 consecutive NCAA polls. ... Many in crowd booed when former Arizona coach Lute Olson was shown on the video screen late in the game.
Top Game Performances
 
Arizona   UCLA
Ryan Anderson 15 Scoring Bryce Alford 25
Kadeem Allen 4 Assists Bryce Alford 6
Ryan Anderson 15 Rebounds Tony Parker 12
Ryan Anderson 5 Free Throws Made Bryce Alford 2
Ryan Anderson 1 Steals Aaron Holiday 3
Kadeem Allen 2 Blocks Jonah Bolden 2
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Arizona 84 44.8 6-17 18-22 11 40 4 4 8
UCLA 87 51.6 11-22 10-13 21 31 4 4 9