This UCLA team is starting to become easier to figure out.
The Bruins were back to facing a ranked team Thursday – this time, No. 7 Arizona – and they once again rose to the occasion. Playing before a nearly full Pauley Pavilion, UCLA jumped out to an early lead and showed it can compete with the conference’s elite.
At halftime, unranked UCLA (9-6, 0-2) leads its rival from Tucson, 43-36.
Things started to revert to early December form for the Bruins, starting with Bryce Alford. The junior guard has more than escaped his recent shooting slump, catching fire at the end of the first half. In the last 45 seconds of the period, Alford made two contested 3-pointers, with the final one coming just before the halftime buzzer, bringing the entire Pauley Pavilion crowd to its feet.
Also coming back to form for UCLA was senior forward/center Tony Parker, who put up two lackluster performances on the Washington road trip this past weekend. Parker finished 4-for-6 shooting in the half, with two strong dunks in the paint and eight rebounds. He provided more of a spark in this first half than he did in his two games against Washington and Washington State.
Though Parker was strong in the post, UCLA’s main problem in the second half came in the interior – on post defense. Arizona had 20 points in the paint – the same as UCLA – and also had 13 second-chance points – compared to just two for UCLA. The Wildcats’ best offensive production came from inside, as they shot just 2-for-7 from 3-point range in the first period.
Lastly, this halftime report cannot go without mentioning UCLA freshman guard Aaron Holiday. With UCLA men’s basketball alumnus Russell Westbrook sitting in the first row, Holiday has done his best Westbrook impersonation, pushing the ball in transition and making a series of contested jumpers off the dribble. He even played one-man, full-court defense and intercepted an Arizona inbounds pass, returning it for a UCLA layup. At the end of the first half, Holiday leads all scorers with 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting.
UCLA leads Arizona, just like it led Kentucky at halftime on the first Thursday of last month. Now the Bruins will see if they can repeat some more history by outscoring the Wildcats in the second half as well.
Compiled by Matthew Joye, Bruin Sports senior staff.