Photos: Arizona Wildcats grind out a 58-52 win over UCLA
The No. 11 Wildcats hand the No. 5 Bruins their first Pac 12 loss of the year in a low-scoring 58-52 win at McKale Center, January 21, 2023, Tucson, Ariz.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) exults after scoring and picking up the foul against UCLA in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) draws a foul on his hot over UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11), left, and guard Pelle Larsson (3) celebrate his scoring and picking up the foul against UCLA in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24), left, batters Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) trying to get to the basket in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24) makes up ground and stops Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) from a basket on a break in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
UCLA forward Adem Bona (3) blocks a put-back from Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) late in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson gets high-fives from the crowd after the Wildcats held on down the stretch for a 58-52 win against UCLA at McKale Center on Jan. 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
Arizona guard Cedric Henderson Jr. (45) grabs a handful of UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24) in the fight for a rebound in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd has some words with a game official for a non-call in the second half against UCLA at McKale Center on Jan. 21, 2023. Lloyd wouldn't commit it as a done deal, but it's looking like the Wildcats and Bruins, despite moving to different leagues away from the Pac-12, might suit up against each other again as early as Fall 2024.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) gets sandwiched by UCLA guard Jaylen Clark (0), left, and forward Adem Bona (3) as the three vie for a rebound in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) draws the charge from UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) on his drive in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
Arizona guard Courtney Ramey, left, goes to the floor with UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., middle, and guard Tyger Campbell in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center on Jan. 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
UCLA forward Adem Bona (3) dives in to try to swat the ball out of the hand of Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
UCLA forward Adem Bona blocks a dunk attempt by Arizona center Oumar Ballo early in the first half of their Pac-12 game at McKale Center on Jan. 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
Arizona center Oumar Ballo, left, and guard Pelle Larsson go up in the paint for an offensive rebound against UCLA in their Pac-12 game at McKale Center on Jan. 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
Arizona guard Courtney Ramey (0) gestures to the crowd after hitting a three against UCLA in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
ESPN’s Jay Bilas cracks up while doing a remote pre-game from the Zona Zoo student section hours before Arizona goes against UCLA at McKale Center, on Jan. 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
ESPN’s Jay Bilas does his pre-game remotely in front of a few hundred fans in the Zona Zoo student section hours before Arizona goes against UCLA at McKale Center on Jan. 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
A fan holds a sign up from the Zona Zoo student section as ESPN's Jay Bilas does his pre-game remotely hours before Arizona goes against UCLA at McKale Center on Jan. 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
Arizona basketball great Ernie McCray talks about his life and being inducted into the McKale Center Ring of Honor before the Wildcats’ Jan. 21, 2023 game against UCLA in Tucson.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
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.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
Arizona guard Cedric Henderson Jr. (45), left, and UCLA forward Kenneth Nwuba (14) chase a loose ball in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa (25) flips a pass over UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) bringing the ball up court in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) gets fouled from behind by UCLA forward Adem Bona (3) on his shot attempt in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) takes an elbow trying to drive on UCLA forward Kenneth Nwuba (14) in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) eyes the bucket over UCLA guard David Singleton (34) in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
UCLA forward Adem Bona (3) sprawls under Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) to swipe the ball in the second half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
UCLA head coach Mick Cronin reacts after a Bruin turnover in the first half of their Pac 12 game against Arizona at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) gets stripped from behind in a shot attempt against UCLA in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2023.
University of Arizona vs UCLA
Arizona guard Cedric Henderson Jr. (45), left, center Oumar Ballo (11) and guard Courtney Ramey (0) have the defensive rebound covered against UCLA in the first half of their Pac 12 game at McKale Center, Tucson, Ariz., January 21, 2023.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
No. 11 Arizona scored less than 60 points but proved it could win a defensive battle, knocking off No. 5 UCLA 58-52 at McKale Center.
Scouting report for No. 6 Arizona's game at Washington State on Thursday (9 p.m. MT, FS1), including players to watch and Wildcat assistant coach Jack Murphy's take on the Cougars.
So the Pac-12 regular-season title won’t be on the line Saturday as anticipated when UCLA hosts Arizona at Pauley Pavilion. That’s OK. From NCAA Tournament seeding, to Azuolas Tubelis vs. Jaime Jaquez Jr. for the Pac-12 Player of the Year Award, so much else is.
The Pac-12 reversed its initial plan to have Arizona and UCLA skip their game at McKale Center next season, the last for both teams in the conference.
Five takeaways from Arizona's win over UCLA, including a defensive slugfest, Tommy Lloyd cutting down the bench rotation, and the Wildcats getting back into the Pac-12 race.
Hear what Tommy Lloyd said following No. 11 Arizona's win over No. 5 UCLA.
Arizona has two McDonald's All-Americans in back-to-back seasons.