LAS VEGAS — UCLA did everything right. Rotated, closed out, and watched Arizona superstar Azoulas Tubelis miss an open 3-pointer, all while the Bruins held onto a one-point lead with less than 30 seconds remaining in the Pac-12 championship game.
But the Bruins, with no big men left to play, could only watch as Arizona center Oumar Ballo tipped the rebound, first to Pelle Larsson then back out to Tubelis, who swung it to Courtney Ramey. The senior guard stepped forward as if to drive, then stepped back. The shot went up and in, and the Wildcats took the lead.
The Bruins had one last chance, guard Tyger Campbell driving forward and drawing a foul on Ramey with 6.8 seconds left. But after making the first throw, Campbell’s second rolled off the rim.
Tubelis collected the rebound and split the free throws. Bruin guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. grabbed the rebound and found freshman Dylan Andrews open in the corner. But the potential game winner hit only the rim as Arizona held on, defeating UCLA 61-59 for the second straight year in the Pac-12 championship game.
Emotions ran high after the game. Asked about his takeaway from his team’s short-handed effort, UCLA head coach Mick Cronin could focus on only what he felt was a missed call on Ramey’s critical shot.
As he stepped back, Ramey extended his left arm into the body of UCLA guard Will McClendon. It was not a full extension, but McClendon spun with the contact before trying to recover and contest Ramey’s shot.
“My takeaway is an offensive foul not called and they hit a 3,” Cronin said shortly.
He did not have much else to add for much of the press conference. But when informed that UCLA radio reported an altercation between his father and an Arizona fan after the game, Cronin stormed out, followed hurriedly by athletic director Martin Jarmond.
Jarmond was seen speaking with Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff as Arizona cut down the nets at T-Mobile Arena.
The fact that UCLA had a chance to win at the…
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