Thriller in the Desert; Bears hold off Ducks

UCLA at Arizona State
Lazeric Jones scored 18 points, UCLA made 3 3 pointers in overtime and the Bruins survived Arizona State 73-72. However, the ending was bizarre in many ways.

UCLA held a 34-19 second half lead, but Arizona State, a good comeback team, chipped away at that margin. Star Ty Abbott had done nothing, scoring 0 points until 4:11 was left in the second half. Jamelle McMillan and Rihards Kukskis were forced to carry the load, and they did nothing at first but got the Sun Devils started and on a 16-9 run.

However, a period of over 4 minutes that Arizona State couldn't score proved critical, as UCLA went back up by 12. Josh Smith made a thundering dunk and Tyler Honeycutt nailed a jumper, giving UCLA a 47-35 lead. But ASU wouldn't go away.

2 3's helped power a 12-3 run to make it 50-47, but a free throw and a layup by Lazeric Jones got the Bruins back up by 6. Then came Ty Abbott, who nailed 2 free throws to jumpstart a rally.

A pair of Malcolm Lee free throws got the Bruins back up by 8, but ASU scored 4 straight to make it a 4 point game. The Devils had the ball, and they got it to Abbott, who nailed a 3 to get Arizona State within one. After UCLA went back up by 4, Abbott drilled another 3.

But UCLA responded, getting 2 free throws to power a 61-58 lead. However, UCLA fouled Arizona State, and after making the first, Jordan Bachynzki missed the second. Luckily for Arizona State, Trent Lockett got the rebound and scored to tie the game. Following a UCLA miss the game went into overtime.

The Bruins got off on the right foot in OT, working the ball around the court to get 4 wide open 3's, 3 that were made. UCLA held an early 70-63 OT edge, but ASU bounced back. Then, with about 20 seconds left in OT, the most heartbreaking play for ASU came.

A layup was about to go in the hoop and cut the deficit to one, but Jamelle McMillan tipped it out of the hoop, and UCLA made a foul shot one second later. Rihards Kukskis made a 3 with 0.6 seconds left, but it wasn't enough and UCLA held on.

Other news
Marhuki Sanders-Frison scored 18 as Cal evaded Oregon in an 85-77 win.

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