[0] RALLY LIFTS UCLA KAPONO'S SHOTS CAP COMEBACK UCLA 77, ARIZONA 76.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

In the end, unable to give anymore, all they could do was watch.

All the effort they'd spent. All the gut-wrenching shots they'd made. All the heroic plays by unsung heroes and it came down to the UCLA basketball team watching Arizona center Channing Frye line up an open eight-foot shot from the right of the basket.

When Frye's shot banked off the glass, rolled around the rim and into a sea of arms as the buzzer sounded, UCLA had a 77-76 victory over the Wildcats before a crowd of 11,960 at Pauley Pavilion.

The victory kept UCLA's Pacific-10 Conference title hopes alive, pulling the Bruins into a five-way tie for second, a half-game behind Arizona.

The Bruins, who rallied from an eight-point deficit in the second half, got 20 points - including a couple of huge 3-pointers - from Jason Kapono, who sank the game-winner with 19 seconds to play.

It was barely enough to overcome a sensational effort from Arizona guard Jason Gardner, who scored a game-high 25 points, including 7 of 10 from 3-point range. Gardner's final 3-pointer had given Arizona a 76-74 lead just before Kapono's shot.

Yet, the night belonged to UCLA center Dan Gadzuric.

The senior scored 22 points and 16 rebounds, nearly duplicating the effort he had against the Wildcats last season, and his effort and drive served as a catalyst for the Bruins.

UCLA also got a boost from backup point guard Ryan Walcott, who finished the game in place of Cedric Bozeman. Walcott drove to the basket and his runner missed, but Gadzuric's tip kept the ball alive, Matt Barnes grabbed the rebound and kicked it out to Kapono, whose 3-pointer put UCLA ahead 74-73 with 1:02 left. It was the Bruins' first lead since they were up 13-12.

Arizona (17-7, 10-4), however, came right back and answered when Gardner, coming off a screen bombed in a 3-pointer to put the Wildcats ahead 76-74 with 36.4 seconds left. UCLA (17-7, 9-4), declining to call timeout, got the ball into Barnes underneath the basket and he backed in, then swung it to the opposite wing where a wide-open Kapono hit another 3- pointer to put the Bruins ahead 77-76.

Gadzuric, who had the best game of his career last year at home against Arizona, looked as if he was going to match that performance where he equaled his then-career highs of 22 points and 17 rebounds in the Bruins' 79-77 overtime victory.

Gadzuric was dominant at both ends of the court, pushing around Arizona freshman Channing Frye to get position on offense and grab rebounds at the other end.

Gadzuric nearly had a double-double by halftime, with 13 points and nine rebounds. He made 6 of 7 shots and also had a pair of assists as the Bruins' offense ran through him when it was most successful.

Meanwhile, Frye, who was perfect in Arizona's win last month - 6 for 6 from the field and 7 for 7 from the free-throw line - had just four points and four rebounds in 16 minutes in the first half.

UCLA led 13-12 before Gardner hit back-to-back 3-pointers and the Bruins never led the rest of the half. The Bruins tied the score on a follow dunk by Gadzuric that for the first time got the crowd involved.

But Arizona responded with a three-point play and a transition basket by Ricky Anderson around a Kapono 3-pointer, and the Wildcats answered Barnes' missed 3-pointer with a transition 3-pointer from Gardner to restore their five-point lead. When Gardner hit his fourth and final 3-pointer of the half, Arizona had its biggest lead, 40-30, with 2:20 left in the half.

However, the Bruins answered with a dunk by Dijon Thompson off a feed from Gadzuric and a post move from Barnes to close within 40-34 at the half. The Bruins nearly got a huge boost at the buzzer when Barnes grabbed the rebound of Gardner's missed 3-pointer, took several dribbles and launched a 60-footer that bounced off the front of the rim at the buzzer.

The Bruins, who have struggled offensively since blowing a 20-point lead and losing at Arizona last month, had more troubles in the first half. They were mostly due to turnovers. The Bruins committed nine turnovers in the first half, including four by Barnes, who entered with 16 turnovers in the previous three games.

UCLA got a lift in the first half Walcott, who hit a 3-pointer and drew a charging call against Luke Walton on a 2-on-1 fast break.

Arizona, which repeatedly got open looks from 3-point range by penetrating and kicking out passes to the perimeter, took advantage of the mostly uncontested shots. The Wildcats hit 7 of 15 3-point shots in the first half.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Dan Gadzuric emphatically dunks against Arizona. He finished with 22 points Thursday night.

(2) Matt Barnes goes to the basket Thursday. He assisted on both of Jason Kapono's 3-pointers in the final 1:02.

Michael Owen Baker/Staff Photographer

Box:

PAC-10 STANDINGS