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UCLA Basketball: Bruins Get Their Revenge Over Arizona, Win 77-72

By Mike Regalado

Feb 25, 2017; Tucson, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (20) celebrates after scoring against the Arizona Wildcats during the second half at McKale Center. UCLA won 77-72. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2017; Tucson, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (20) celebrates after scoring against the Arizona Wildcats during the second half at McKale Center. UCLA won 77-72. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports /
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The UCLA Basketball team completed their “Revenge Tour” on the Pac-12 as they defeated Arizona 77-72 on their own court and stay alive for the conference championship.

With the UCLA Basketball team beating Arizona in Tucson tonight, so many things have happened for the Bruins.

First off, this gives UCLA their revenge on Arizona after the Wildcats smashed the Bruins at Pauley Pavilion last month. Similar to what Arizona did in that last game, the Bruins took down the Wildcats in the second half behind a balanced offensive-defensive game.

Secondly, this win over Arizona completes their “Revenge Tour” as the Bruins have now beat Arizona, Oregon and USC, the only three teams to beat UCLA this season.

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Third, according to the ESPN Stats & Info Twitter account, UCLA now has a 4-game win streak against Top 5 teams, which is the “Bruins’ longest such win streak since a 13-gamer from 1967-68 to 1973-74”.

Fourth, with this win over Arizona, which was preceded by a win over Arizona State, the Bruins now have their third road sweep of the season. This is only the third road sweep in Head Coach Steve Alford’s tenure in Westwood.

Fifth, since that last Arizona game, which was followed by a loss at USC, the Bruins are now riding a 7-game win streak, the longest in the Pac-12.

Sixth, the UCLA Basketball team continues to improve as a team and once again shared scoring duties as five Bruins got into double digits. Bryce Alford (15), Thomas Welsh (14), TJ leaf (12), Aaron Holiday (12) and Lonzo Ball (11) did a spectacular job moving the ball around as UCLA shot 29/64 (45.3%) for the game which was fueled by a15/30 shooting performance in the second half. The team had 17 total assists, with Ball adding in 8 of his own.

As part of their second half rout, the Bruins dominated the glass after the break, 17-8. For the game, the Bruins had 12 offensive rebounds to Arizona’s 3. This game might have been close at halftime, but after the break, UCLA bRuined Arizona.

Next: ESPn's Bracketology Has UCLA As A 4-Seed

#5 UCLA (26-3, 13-3) is now 1.5 games behind conference leaders #6 Oregon (26-4, 15-2) and #4 Arizona (26-4, 15-2), who each have one game remaining with their in-state rivals. UCLA has two games left against the Washington schools at Pauley Pavilion next week. There is an outside chance, but UCLA could still win the Pac-12. Right now, they should leap ahead of Arizona in next week’s AP Poll — possible #3 ranking — and get a bit more respect from those claiming they are an NCAA Tournament 4-seed.