In a commanding performance, the No. 5 Arizona Wildcats clinched the Pac-12 Conference regular-season championship with an impressive 88-65 victory over UCLA in Los Angeles. KJ Lewis led the way with a team-high 18 points off the bench, showcasing the depth of Arizona’s talent with five players scoring in double figures.
Arizona (24-6, 15-4 Pac-12) faced a brief 18-second deficit early in the first half before launching into dominant runs of 12-2 and 17-6, securing a substantial halftime advantage. The Wildcats demonstrated efficiency, going 5 of 11 from beyond the arc, 13 of 26 overall from the floor, and an impressive 13 of 16 at the free-throw line in the first half.
UCLA (14-16, 9-10) struggled to resist Arizona’s offensive prowess, with the Wildcats extending their lead to a commanding 28 points in the second half. Jaden Bradley contributed 13 points off the bench for UCLA, but the team was unable to match Arizona’s intensity.
Caleb Love led the scoring for Arizona with 17 points, supported by Pelle Larsson’s 12 points and Kylan Boswell’s 10 points and game-high five assists. Keshad Johnson added seven points but dominated the boards with a game-high 11 rebounds.
Arizona’s shooting proficiency was evident as they went 28 of 54 from the floor and 9 of 23 from beyond the arc. In contrast, UCLA struggled, shooting 23 of 59 from the floor and 6 of 18 from 3-point range. Lazar Stefanovic stood out for UCLA with 20 points, making 5 of 9 from beyond the arc, while Dylan Andrews contributed 18 points and Adem Bona added 10 points.
The victory marked Arizona’s return to form, breaking a five-game losing streak at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA, on the other hand, extended its losing streak to five games.
In a significant development, coupled with No. 18 Washington State’s 74-68 home loss to Washington earlier on Thursday night, Arizona’s win secured the outright conference championship. This victory marks the 18th and final regular-season Pac-12 title for Arizona, as they prepare to transition to the Big 12 in the 2024-25 season.
