DEFENSIVE BLUNDER HURTS BRUINS LATE ARIZONA 76, UCLA 73.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer TUCSON, Ariz. - Tight inside UCLA's huddle, moments after Arron Afflalo's 3-pointer pulled the Bruins even with Arizona with 16.9 seconds left, coach Ben Howland Ben Howland (born May 28, 1957 in Lebanon, Oregon) is an American college head coach of men's basketball. He has been the head coach of the University of California, Los Angeles since 2003, and recently signed a contract extension through 2013. set the defense. His last instruction was aimed at Afflalo, who was told to guard Salim Stoudamire Charles Salim Stoudamire (born October 11, 1982 in Portland, Oregon) is an American professional basketball player in the NBA, currently with the Atlanta Hawks. Stoudamire was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the second round (31st overall pick) of the 2005 NBA Draft. tightly. Belly button-to-belly button defense. Afflalo heard the instructions, he just didn't listen. Instead, Afflalo played off Stoudamire, and in case UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX wasn't versed enough in just how gifted offensively Arizona's senior guard is, he showed them again by swishing a 26-footer with 2.5 seconds remaining to give the 17th-ranked Wildcats a 76-73 win in front of 14,559 Saturday at McKale Center McKale Memorial Center is an athletic arena located on the campus of the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. It is primarily used for basketball, but also features state-of-the-art physical training and therapy facilities. . ``Coach told me in the huddle, 'Don't give him any space. Make him drive, make him drive,''' said Afflalo, a freshman. ``I just didn't listen. I gave him a little too much, and with six seconds left, as a senior, I should have expected (the shot). It was a little immaturity on my part, and I take responsibility for that. All I can say is I'll do a better job on him next time. ``I didn't want to foul, and he was about 30-plus feet out. I figured with six seconds left, he'd penetrate and pull up then. I didn't think he would just go up and shoot from the volleyball line.'' Stoudamire, who did much of his damage with 10- to 14-foot jumpers off dribble penetration, made 11 of 16 shots, scored 24 of Arizona's last 29 points and finished with a season-high 32 points. Even with Stoudamire's effort, the Wildcats had to survive a bizarre finish. Arizona's bench was called for a technical foul technical foul n. Sports A foul, especially in basketball, that is called on a player, coach, or team for unsportsmanlike conduct or infringement of a rule and does not usually involve physical contact with an opponent during play. for running on the court when Hassan Adams Hassan Olawale Adams (born June 20, 1984, in Los Angeles, California) is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent. He played collegiately at the University of Arizona from 2002 to 2006. stole an inbounds in·bounds adj. 1. Basketball Involving putting the ball into play by passing it from out of bounds to a teammate on the court. 2. Sports Within the designated boundaries. pass and was fouled with 1.2 seconds left. ``I had been driving, but (Afflalo) gave me the room, and I shot it,'' said Stoudamire, who entered the week second in the nation at 56.2 percent beyond the arc. ``Usually, Coach (Lute Olson Robert Luther "Lute" Olson (born September 22, 1934 in Mayville, North Dakota) is the current men's basketball head coach at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. He is one of the UA's highest-paid employees, though a substantial percentage of his salary is supplemented by ) likes me to come off the high-post screen, but I don't like that. I like to clear it out. Channing (Frye) was coming to run up, and I cleared him off, like, 'Hey, man, get outta my way.''' The loss snapped UCLA's four-game winning streak Noun 1. winning streak - a streak of wins streak, run - an unbroken series of events; "had a streak of bad luck"; "Nicklaus had a run of birdies" and knocked the Bruins (10-4, 4-2 Pacific-10) out of the conference lead. Arizona (14-3, 4-1) has beaten UCLA eight consecutive times at home. ``It's tough, especially the way I played, and (we) lose by three ... it's real tough,'' said Bruins senior Dijon Thompson Dijon Lynn Thompson (born February 23, 1983 in Los Angeles, California, USA) is an American professional basketball player for Alba Berlin of the German Bundesliga. , whose 27-point, 10-rebound performance was ruined. ``(Afflalo) was in a tough situation. As a freshman, I understand. You gotta learn from it. I could tell he wanted to cry, but he kept his head up. He's got three more years of this, so I wish him the best.'' Stoudamire's shot capped another amazing afternoon for the senior from Portland, Ore., against UCLA. He established a then-career-high (34 points) last season in beating the Bruins, scored a season-high this time and is averaging 30.3 points in his past three games against UCLA. This time, there was no indication Stoudamire would have a big day the first 25 minutes. He was held to eight points in the first half and went through a sulking session early in the second half after being yanked for not hustling back after a Josh Shipp Josh Shipp (born 23 January in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) is an American motivational speaker and author focusing on youth and college-aged audiences. He is noted as being one of the youngest speakers ever accepted into the National Speakers Association. steal and dunk gave UCLA a 48-40 lead. Upon returning, Stoudamire took over offensively, scoring 18 of 19 points for Arizona during one stretch. ``It's tough to come all the way out here, play a team this good all the way until the end and wind up losing,'' UCLA center Michael Fey said. ``(Stoudamire) had a good second half. We just couldn't guard him.'' Arizona's defense, which was loose and allowed UCLA to shoot 60.7 percent in the first half, was more aggressive and limited the Bruins to 26.7 percent shooting the second half. Without pressing, the Wildcats forced 23 turnovers. Although the Bruins made just three jump shots in the second half and went 9:17 without a field goal, they tied it in the final minute. Thompson hit a short jumper, UCLA forced a quick turnover, and Afflalo made his 3-pointer from the left side to make it 73-73. ``We really got after them in the second half, and if we played like that in the first half, it would have been a totally different ballgame,'' Wildcats guard Mustafa Shakur Mustafadden Abdush Shakur (born August 18, 1984 in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania) is an American basketball player currently with the Sacramento Kings. He was previously a point guard for the Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team. said. ``I think they got tired.'' Brian Dohn, (818) 713-3607 brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Teammates celebrate with Arizona's Salim Stoudamire, center, after his game-winning 3-pointer. (2) UCLA's Josh Shipp, left, knocks the ball away from Arizona's Chris Rodgers in the Wildcats' victory. John Miller/Associated Press |
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