UCLA topples No. 7 Arizona on Bryce Alford’s last-second trey

But this is a huge game.

UCLA is 9-1 at home thanks to Bryce Alford’s clutch 3-pointer. It was a stunning turn of events that quieted the Pauley Pavilion crowd, of which included Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and the rest of the Oklahoma City Thunder. Fans received eyeglass frames, a nod to Westbrook’s eyewear for postgame news conferences…. They lost to the Washington schools last weekend.

– UCLA’s five starters have averaged at least 10.0 points per game, with junior guard Bryce Alford having registered a team-leading 16.9 points per game (the fifth-highest scoring average in the Pac-12 through January 5). He scored 25 points and made nine of 18 shots, including five of 11 from three-point range.

UCLA got off to a fast start against the Wildcats when Isaac Hamilton hit the game’s first shot from three-point range one minute into the game. Arizona coach Sean Miller told reporters this week that he’s planning to put 7-footers Kaleb Tarczewski and Dusan Ristic on the floor together, though Tarczewski likely isn’t ready to move back into the starting lineup in his second game back after missing six weeks with a left foot injury.

Then, as we’ve seen many times before – Bryce Alford happened. You literally have to be out of your mind to do that. UA will visit the UCLA Bruins on Thursday night at 7 p.m. (MST) on ESPN2 from Pauley Pavilion.

Early in the second half, UCLA zoomed to a 10-0 run. After trailing by double digits for most of the second period, they unleashed a 15-2 run in a little over three minutes, tying the game at 83-83 with 41 seconds left. They went on a 15-2 run late in the second half sparked by the grittiness and play-making ability of Kadeem Allen. Allen easily got by UCLA big man Thomas Welsh for a dunk after Allonzo Trier hit a 3-pointer in the spurt. He made the first free thow and missed the second.

Arizona rallied from 14 points down to tie it with 14 seconds to go. “We really let that slip and we were lucky to get a win out of it”.

Desi Rodriguez, Seton Hall: When he’s not getting benched for yelling at his coach, Rodriguez is a pretty important piece for the Pirates, averaging 12.0 points and shooting 38.1 percent from three after going 1-for-12 as a freshmen.

“We got a switch, and he did the right thing”. Alford hit back-to-back 3-pointers in the final 41 seconds, earning the Bruins a standing ovation as they ran back into the locker room with a 43-36 lead. 20 Gonzaga and now No. 7 Arizona (13-2, 1-1). Tarczewski has 1,004 points in his four-year career….

Texas Tech has won 10 straight since losing the second game of the season to Utah at the Puerto Rico Tip-off back in November.

Former UCLA standout and four-time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook will be recognized Thursday for his significant financial contribution toward the Mo Ostin Basketball Center (currently under construction, targeted for completion in the fall of 2017).