UCLA triumph tempered by loss of Jordan Adams

LAS VEGAS — UCLA had just beaten Arizona for the third time this season, a 66-64 triumph in the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals. The win was arguably one of the Bruins’ most impressive performances of the season, but no one could have guessed that by peeking inside their locker room.

Senior point guard Larry Drew II walked through the tunnel at MGM Grand Garden Arena with his jersey pulled over his mouth, blurting out an expletive before school officials shepherded UCLA’s players into the room and shut the door to deliver the news.

Freshman guard Jordan Adams – who had just scored a team-leading 24 points – had broken the fifth metatarsal in his right foot on the game’s final play, an injury that will sideline the Bruins’ second leading scorer for the remainder of the postseason.

Adams’ teammates knew they were headed to Saturday’s Pac-12 championship game for the first time since 2008, but heads hung low.

“We’re not going to celebrate or be happy because one of our family members on this team hurt themselves,” sophomore guard Norman Powell said. “That changes everything.”

Arizona had the ball on the game’s final possession. Adams sprinted to contest a 3-point attempt by Solomon Hill that would have tied the game. Hill settled for a jumper from inside the arc that was off the mark but Adams came up limping. He suffered the same injury in high school.

Adams is the team’s second leading scorer and leads the conference in steals.

“He’s a huge component on this team just because of the toughness and how hard he plays,” said redshirt junior forward David Wear. “He’s a team player. He’s what holds us all together. I’m sure other guys are going to have to step up now but it’s a huge loss and I feel terrible for him because of everything he has accomplished this season.”

Adams’ performance on Friday was one of his finest. As freshman forward/guard Shabazz Muhammad found himself suffocated by Hill’s defense, Adams caught fire. During a second-half run that brought No. 21 UCLA back from 11 points down, Adams scored 13 straight points.

The Bruins (25-8, 13-5 Pac-12) pulled themselves out of double-digit holes for the second time in as many games on Friday, thanks in large part to Adams. He picked Arizona senior guard Mark Lyons’ pocket twice in the game’s final minutes and converted free throws each time on the opposite end.

I was just waiting on it,” Adams said. “I just try to start everything up with my defense.”

He was 11 for 13 from the free throw line, more attempts than No. 18 Arizona (25-7, 12-6) had combined.

“He’s getting hit, and he does a good job of getting to the line,” coach Ben Howland said.

The Adams-less Bruins will face Oregon in the championship game Saturday at 8 p.m.

With contributing reports from Ryan Menezes, Bruin Sports senior staff.