ARIZONA BASKETBALL

Trier scores 18, No. 17 Arizona holds off UCLA 81-75

Feb 12, 2016, 9:42 PM | Updated: 9:46 pm

Arizona guard Allonzo Trier (11) shoots against UCLA forward Gyorgy Goloman during the second half ...

Arizona guard Allonzo Trier (11) shoots against UCLA forward Gyorgy Goloman during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Friday, Feb 12, 2016, in Tucson, Ariz. Arizona defeated UCLA 81-75. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

TUCSON, Ariz. — Allonzo Trier scored 15 of his 18 points in the second half, Parker Jackson-Cartwright added 16 points and No. 17 Arizona held off UCLA 81-75 on Friday night.

Arizona (20-5, 8-4 Pac-12) stumbled through a lackluster first half at both ends to trail by 10. The Wildcats tightened up defensively in the second and took advantage of UCLA’s foul trouble to wear down the Bruins.

UCLA (13-11, 4-7) had centers Thomas Welsh and Tony Parker foul out in a span of 42 seconds late in the second half and Arizona took advantage by pounding the ball inside.

Kaleb Tarczewski and Ryan Anderson combined for 27 rebounds, and Arizona made 29 of 45 free throws in the foul-filled game. Gabe York added 15 points.

Isaac Hamilton scored 24 points and Bryce Alford had 17 for UCLA, which was 12 for 16 on free throws.

UCLA won the first meeting 87-84 on Jan. 7 at Pauley Pavilion when Alford hit a 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds left

The Bruins have struggled since then, losing four of seven, including an 80-61 blowout by rival Southern California.

The Wildcats head into the final stretch of the regular season finally healthy.

Arizona played eight games without Tarczewski (foot) early in the season and seven without Trier, who had seven points in 16 minutes against Washington last week in his first game back.

UCLA controlled the rematch early, effectively working the ball around as Arizona struggled with the Bruins’ ball screens.

Hamilton hurt the Wildcats from the perimeter, scoring 11 points in the opening 10 minutes, and the Bruins repeatedly got the ball inside Arizona’s slow-rotating defense for easy baskets at the rim.

UCLA continued to find gaps in Arizona’s defense, going on a 17-4 run and hitting 17 of 32 shots to lead 44-34 at halftime.

Arizona was impatient on offense, settling for jump shots instead of getting the ball inside or to the rim. The Wildcats made five shots inside the 3-point arc and were outscored 22-10 in the paint in the first half.

The Wildcats tightened up defensively in the second half, rotating better and challenging nearly everything at the rim.

Trier ditched the brace on his right hand in the second half and scored nine quick points, highlighted by an alley-oop dunk on a feed from York and a long 3-pointer to beat the shot clock to pull the Wildcats within four.

Arizona continued to chip away at the lead, finally taking it at 60-59 on Anderson’s putback off a missed free throw.

The Wildcats’ ability to draw fouls in the first half began to cause problems for UCLA late in the second. Welsh fouled out with about 6 1/2 minutes left and Parker was right behind him after re-entering the game.

Even without their two big men, the Bruins kept up with the Wildcats, hitting one clutch shot after another.

The Wildcats hit the biggest ones down the stretch: a 3-pointer by Jackson-Cartwright and York’s three-point play with 54 seconds left to cap a 9-0 run that put Arizona up 78-70.

TIP-INS

UCLA: Hamilton scored in double figures in 20 straight games, longest by a UCLA player since Kevin Love did it in all 39 games of his freshman season in 2007-08.

Arizona: PG Kadeem Allen was limited to four points while playing sick. … Jackson-Cartwright had four assists.

WHAT’S NEXT

UCLA plays at Arizona State on Sunday.

Arizona hosts No. 23 USC on Sunday.

Arizona Basketball

JuJu Watkins drives on Cameron Brink...

Associated Press

Pac-12 women get 7 teams in NCAA Tournament, including Arizona

The Pac-12 could be poised for a strong showing in its final March Madness run. Arizona, USC, Stanford and more are in the NCAA Tournament.

9 hours ago

Kylan Boswell celebrates...

Arizona Sports

Experts predict Arizona Wildcats’ NCAA Tournament run

Arizona isn't a No. 1 seed this NCAA Tournament, but that hasn't stopped some experts from picking the program from going far in 2024.

10 hours ago

Oumar Ballo #11 and Keshad Johnson #16 of the Arizona Wildcats bump chests after a basket by Ballo ...

David Veenstra

Arizona faces Long Beach State in 1st round of 2024 NCAA Tournament

The No. 2 seed Arizona Wildcats will take on No. 15 seed Long Beach State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Salt Lake City.

1 day ago

Head coach Tommy Lloyd of the Arizona Wildcats calls to his team in the second half of a semifinal ...

Kellan Olson

Arizona projected as No. 2 seed for NCAA Tournament, GCU 12th

The Arizona Wildcats' two recent losses have still been deemed as costly enough to have them miss out on a NCAA Tournament top seed.

2 days ago

Jadrian Tracey...

Associated Press

Oregon captures final Pac-12 Tournament championship with win over Colorado

Oregon secured an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament by defeating Colorado 75-68 on Saturday night, ending the Pac-12 basketball era.

2 days ago

Keshad Johnson #16 of the Arizona Wildcats drives the ball against N'Faly Dante #1 and Jackson Shel...

Damon Allred

Arizona eliminated from Pac-12 Tournament in loss to Oregon

Arizona men's basketball packed its bags to leave Las Vegas and the Pac-12 Tournament early after falling 67-59 to fourth-seeded Oregon.

3 days ago

Trier scores 18, No. 17 Arizona holds off UCLA 81-75