Wildcats overcome early struggles, beat UCLA: By the Numbers
Feb 22, 2015, 5:45 AM | Updated: 5:52 am
It was a battle of two beginnings and a bench for the No. 7 Arizona Wildcats.
They rallied twice, first at the game’s open and then at the half to ultimately seal the win over UCLA, 57-47.
The start was an ugly one for Arizona (24-3, 11-2). The ‘Cats went 0-for-5 with four turnovers in their first nine possessions, while UCLA went on a 10-0 run.
Arizona’s first two points of the game, in fact, came off free throws by Dusan Ristic — who is usually sitting on the bench at the start of games.
Ristic would have 12 points — the second-highest of the game for the Wildcats behind Gabe York’s 13 — to add to the Arizona bench’s 27 points throughout.
The ‘Cats rallied before the half, thanks to a 22-point combined effort from Ristic and York, and led going into the locker room, 32-18.
But UCLA started the second period even stronger than before behind Bryce Alford’s game-high 22 points and opened the half with a 17-0 run.
Again, Arizona fought — this time to keep a lead.
Three UCLA players fouled out — two of whom had started the game — yet their reserves didn’t score a single point, ultimately leading to the demise of the Bruins in Tucson.
What did Arizona’s wild win look like, by the numbers?
27-0
Their bench points decided the Wildcats’ fate. York and Ristic were a combined 7-of-10 from the field in the first half, while the rest of the team made just four of 20 attempts.
And once two of UCLA’s starters fouled out, the Bruins’ reserves were unable to supplement those points. They finished the game with two turnovers and two missed shots.
10
The Wildcats opened the second half with 10 consecutive missed shots.
3
Bruins players Kevon Loony, Tony Parker and Thomas Welsh all fouled out — the former two are UCLA starters.
40-23
As one of the best defensive rebounding teams in the country, Arizona matched their normal dominance of the boards over UCLA 40-23.
The Wildcats allowed just one offensive rebound.
34
Arizona shot just 34 percent from the field, hitting 18 of a massive 53 attempts.
57
The Wildcats’ 57 points tie for a season-low in offensive production (Oregon State, Jan. 30).
70
Arizona has held 70 of its last 72 opponents under 80 points.
1
The game, always a grudgematch, took place at McKale Center for the first time in two years and was the site of ESPN’s College GameDay.
36
The Wildcats have now won 36-straight home games at McKale Center and posts a Pac-12 best .928 home win percentage over the last four seasons.
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