UCLA Basketball vs. Arizona: Halftime Report, Wildcats Edging Out Bruins

Feb 25, 2017; Tucson, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins forward TJ Leaf (22) dribbles the ball as Arizona Wildcats center Chance Comanche (21) defends during the first half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2017; Tucson, AZ, USA; UCLA Bruins forward TJ Leaf (22) dribbles the ball as Arizona Wildcats center Chance Comanche (21) defends during the first half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona and UCLA Basketball teams are playing a close one in Tucson as the Wildcats are up on the Bruins at halftime, 43-39.

The UCLA Basketball team was ready for this game. A mixture of good shooting and solid defense kept them in the game early. That changed as we got closer to halftime.

Though they trail at the half, it is a better outcome than the midway point of the last game at Pauley Pavilion.

Both teams took some time to get in gear, but Arizona pulled ahead early with an 11-6 lead. UCLA then went on an 11-2 run to lead 17-13 at the 12:00 mark. The Bruins were leading for the majority of the half, but late in the first, the Wildcats were able to pull ahead late for the four-point lead at the break.

Arizona had uncharacteristically committed 9 fouls in the half. The biggest concern for Arizona is Kadeem Allen who has 3 fouls after 20 minutes of play.

The Bruins also found themselves in foul trouble as they committed 12, with five Bruins with two fouls each. The most painful came from Lonzo Ball on an Arizona fast break for his second of the game that forced him to sit for the last 40 seconds.

Next: How to Watch UCLA vs Arizona

That is when Arizona creeped back in and took the lead heading into the break. Ball is leading all Bruins with 9 points, followed by 8 points from Leaf.  For Arizona, Allonzo Trier lead all scores with 16 points of his own.