Wildcats Claw Back to Seize Victory Over Bruins at McKale Center

The Arizona Wildcats, ranked 12th, emerged victorious against the UCLA Bruins with a final score of 77-71. The Wildcats' season record now stands at an impressive 12-1, while the Bruins slipped to a less favorable tally. The game was a hard-fought battle that saw both teams display remarkable tenacity on the court.

In front of a packed crowd at McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona, the Wildcats started off trailing behind with only 28 points in the first half compared to UCLA's 37. However, as play resumed after halftime, Arizona staged an incredible comeback by adding an astonishing 49 points to their score while holding UCLA to just 34 additional points.

Arizona's performance was highlighted by their superior shooting accuracy from two-point range where they achieved a solid 61 percent success rate. Their overall field goal percentage stood at 43 percent and they matched UCLA's free throw accuracy with both teams netting an impressive 86 percent from the line. The Wildcats also outperformed their opponents in terms of rebounds with a total of 36 compared to UCLA's 29.

The home team demonstrated excellent ball movement throughout the game which resulted in them accumulating more assists than UCLA; Arizona finished with a total of fourteen assists. They also capitalized on turnovers better than their rivals by scoring twelve points off turnovers and maintaining an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.4.

Defensively, both teams were evenly matched with three blocks each but it was Arizona who edged out on steals leading five to six and committing fewer personal fouls (13) against UCLA’s twenty-six fouls which included two foulouts for the visiting team.

A key factor contributing to Arizona’s win was their ability to dominate second-chance opportunities where they scored seventeen second-chance points thanks largely due to eleven offensive rebounds.

As fans look ahead, they can mark their calendars for when the Wildcats will face off against Oregon State Beavers at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis on January twenty-fifth at eight o'clock PM Mountain Time Zone. This upcoming conference game will be broadcasted live on Pac-12 Network for fans unable to attend and wish support from afar as Arizona continues its pursuit towards another victory this season.