Cat Tracks: Slow-starting Wildcats fall at UCLA

Mar 3, 2013, 4:39 AM | Updated: 5:27 am

Arizona Sports

Sure, you could read the box score and know who won, but we all know that won’t tell you everything that happened in a basketball game. So, we give you ‘Cat Tracks’, providing you with the analysis, quotes and notes from Arizona’s 74-69 loss at UCLA on March 2.

The Good:

UCLA freshman Jordan Adams came into Saturday night with three straight 20-point performances. Senior Kevin Parrom held Adams in check, limiting the impressive frosh to just six points (1-of-5 from the field).

Grant Jerrett and Jordan Mayes gave Sean Miller productive minutes off the bench. The duo combined for 22 points, and Jerrett made 4-of-5 three-point attempts.

Kaleb Tarczewski was rarely targeted at the offensive end (four shots) despite his size advantage on the Wear brothers. But the freshman center did his part on the glass, picking up a game-high 10 boards.

The Bad:

The Wildcats had a chance to tie with under 24 seconds to go, but the game was not lost due to late-game execution but rather poor starts to begin both halves.

In the first half, UA made one field goal over the first 6:30 of the contest and fell behind 13-6. And after coming out of the locker room down 40-36, the Wildcats allowed UCLA to go on a game-changing 12-2 run that pushed the Bruins’ lead to 14 to begin the second half.

Senior forward Solomon Hill had arguably his worst game of the season. Hill had seven points and four assists, but recorded his third and fourth fouls early in the second half and was virtually ineffective down the stretch. He also had a season-high five turnovers.

Mark Lyons was impressive getting to the basket in the first half and scored 11 points. Over the final 20 minutes, however, the senior disappeared. Lyons finished with 13 points, four turnovers and just one assist.

Noted:

• With the loss, UA fell to 11-6 in Pac-12 play. California, Oregon and UCLA all have 12 wins heading into the final week of the regular season.

• UCLA is now 3-0 this season against teams ranked in the top 11.

• The Bruins also moved to 9-2 in games decided by five points or less in 2012-13.

Coming Up Next:

The Wildcats will next face rival ASU at the McKale Center on Saturday, March 9. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 2:30 p.m. MST.

UCLA forward Travis Wear, left, and Arizona forward Solomon Hill reach for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 2, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Arizona guard Mark Lyons, right, goes up for a shot as UCLA guard Norman Powell defends during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 2, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

UCLA forward Travis Wear celebrates after dunking during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Arizona, Saturday, March 2, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

UCLA guard Norman Powell dunks over Arizona guard Jordin Mayes, below right, as forward Grant Jerrett watches during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 2, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Arizona guard Jordin Mayes, left, and UCLA guard Jordan Adams vie for a loose ball during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 2, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

UCLA guard Kyle Anderson, right, puts up a shot in front of Arizona forward Grant Jerrett during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 2, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Cippers' Blake Griffin, left, and DeAndre Jordan watch UCLA play Arizona during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 2, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

UCLA forward Shabazz Muhammad, right, puts up a shot as Arizona forward Solomon Hill defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 2, 2013, in Los Angeles. UCLA won 74-69. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Arizona coach Sean Miller questions a call during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against UCLA, Saturday, March 2, 2013, in Los Angeles. UCLA won 74-69. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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