Fork Report: Sun Devils lose late lead, game to Bruins

Mar 14, 2013, 8:49 PM | Updated: 9:36 pm

One day after coughing up a second half lead and nearly losing to Stanford, the Arizona State Sun Devils did the same thing against the UCLA Bruins.

But different from Wednesday, the Devils could not hang on and knock off the Pac-12 Tournament’s top seed, falling by a score of 80-75.

Arizona State led by as many as 13 points in the first half and 15 in the second, but after a pair of Jordan Bachynski free throws at the 7:46 mark, which put ASU up by 8, UCLA got six straight points from Shabazz Muhammad before a three from Larry Drew II, which gave the Bruins the lead.

It was back and forth from there, but a long two from Travis Wear with 11.3 seconds left gave the Bruins a 78-75 cushion. Jahii Carson drove the lane and kicked the ball out to an open Jonathan Gilling for one last three to try and tie the score with seconds left, but the ball bounced out and a couple of David Wear free throws allowed the Bruins to hold on for the victory

The Good:

Jordan Bachynski, who dominated the Bruins in two regular season matchups, had his way with a team-best 22 points to go along with six rebounds and three blocks.

And, one day after scoring a career-high 34 points against Stanford, freshman Jahii Carson tallied 21 points and seven assists against UCLA. Jonathan Gilling made five of 11 three point attempts and scored 17 points.

Finally, Arizona State’s free throw struggles were left behind them, as they sank 17 of 22 attempts for a 77.3 percent clip.

The Bad:

For the second day in a row the Sun Devils coughed up a late lead, and this time it cost them.

While Bachynski, Carson and Gilling had solid afternoons, no other Sun Devil reached double digits in points, and two players — Chris Colvin and Ruslan Pateev — did not score a point.

And senior Carrick Felix, who made just two of eight shots for seven points, was involved in a final-seconds scuffle that led to three technical fouls being assessed.

Stat of the Game:

The teams combined for just 14 turnovers on the afternoon — eight by ASU and six by UCLA.

He Said It:

ASU center Ruslan Pateev:

Noted:

• Bachynski scored 20 or more points just one other time this season, in a home win over UCLA when he scored 22.

• UCLA’s Larry Drew II’s 20 points topped UCLA, but four other Bruins reached double figures.

• Bachynski needed three blocked shots to set the Pac-12 record for swats in a season, and he got them in this game. His 116 blocks eclipses the previous mark of 115, which was set by ASU great Mario Bennett.

• Travis Wear, who didn’t suit up for UCLA in either of the two previous meetings with ASU, scored 15 points and pulled down six rebounds.

What’s Next:

The Sun Devils await to learn their postseason fate, but odds are it will lie in the NIT.

Arizona State's Jordan Bachynski (13) shoots over UCLA's David Wear (12) and Travis Wear in the first half during a Pac-12 tournament NCAA college basketball game on Thursday, March 14, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) Arizona State's Jahii Carson (1) gets tangled up with UCLA's Jordan Adams (3) as Jonathan Gilling (31) tries to hand the ball off during the first half during a Pac-12 Conference tournament NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, March 14, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) Arizona State's Jahii Carson (1) scores against UCLA's Jordan Adams in the first half during a Pac-12 men's tournament NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, March 14, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) UCLA's Larry Drew II (10) goes up for a shot against Arizona State's Jonathan Gilling during the first half of a Pac-12 men's tournament NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, March 14, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) Arizona State's Carrick Felix (0) and Jonathan Gilling (31) battle for a rebound against UCLA's Kyle Anderson in the first half during a Pac-12 tournament NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, March 14, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) UCLA's Jordan Adams drives in for a layup against Arizona State in the first half during a Pac-12 men's tournament NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, March 14, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) UCLA's Travis Wear (24) celebrates with Larry Drew II (10) after hitting a 3-point basket with the score tied against Arizona State late in the NCAA college basketball game during the Pac-12 men's tournament, Thursday, March 14, 2013, in Las Vegas. UCLA won 80-75. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) UCLA's Travis Wear puts up a three-point basket against Arizona State's Jordan Bachynski late in the game during a Pac-12 tournament NCAA college basketball gam on Thursday, March 14, 2013, in Las Vegas. UCLA won 80-75. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) Arizona State's Carrick Felix walks off the court after losing to UCLA 80-75 during a Pac-12 tournament NCAA college basketball game on Thursday, March 14, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) The UCLA bench reacts after a 3-point basket by Larry Drew II (10) against Arizona State in the closing minutes of a Pac-12 tournament NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, March 14, 2013, in Las Vegas. UCLA won 80-75. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) UCLA players are motioned back to their bench by referees after a double technical foul was called against UCLA and Arizona State late in the second half during a Pac-12 tournament NCAA college basketball game on Thursday, March 14, 2013, in Las Vegas. UCLA won 80-75. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) Arizona State's Carrick Felix, left, and Jahii Carson are held back by a referee after a double technical foul was called near the end of their Pac-12 tournament NCAA college basketball game against UCLA, Thursday, March 14, 2013, in Las Vegas. UCLA won 80-75. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) UCLA's Larry Drew II puts up a reverse layup against Arizona State's Carrick Felix, second from right, and Jordan Bachynski during the second half of a Pac-12 men's tournament NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, March 14, 2013, in Las Vegas. UCLA won 80-75. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) UCLA's Travis Wear dunks against Arizona State in the second half during a Pac-12 men's tournament NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, March 14, 2013, in Las Vegas. UCLA won 80-75. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) Arizona State's Jonathan Gilling, left, and Evan Gordon, center, scramble for a loose ball against UCLA's Travis Wear in the second half during a Pac-12 tournament NCAA college basketball game on Thursday, March 14, 2013, in Las Vegas. UCLA won 80-75. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) Arizona State's Jonathan Gilling, center, battles for a rebound against UCLA's Kyle Anderson, left, and Jordan Adams in the second half during a Pac-12 tournament NCAA college basketball game on Thursday, March 14, 2013, in Las Vegas. UCLA won 80-75. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) Arizona State's Carrick Felix dunks the ball against UCLA in the second half during a Pac-12 tournament NCAA college basketball game on Thursday, March 14, 2013, in Las Vegas. UCLA won 80-75. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) UCLA's Shabazz Muhammad (15) puts up a shot against Arizona State's Jonathan Gilling (31) in the first half during a Pac-12 tournament NCAA college basketball game on Thursday, March 14, 2013, in Las Vegas. UCLA won 80-75. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

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