Muhammad scores 23, lifts UCLA past No. 6 Arizona in Pac-12 clash
TUCSON, Ariz. - Bishop Gorman product Shabazz Muhammad scored 23 points, Jordan Adams added 15 and UCLA rode a dominating start to an 84-73 victory over No. 6 Arizona on Thursday.
The Pac-12's top scoring and shooting team, UCLA tried to turn Arizona's whiteout into a blowout, racing to a 16-point lead after seven minutes at the McKale Center. Even after Arizona chipped away, the Bruins (16-4, 6-1) kept their composure to gain a big road win.
David Wear added 15 points and eight rebounds for UCLA.
Confident and crisp on offense, the Bruins hit eight of their first 12 shots to take a 19-3 lead. Arizona helped out by clanging shot after shot, opening 1-for-13, with most of those around the rim.
The Wildcats (16-2, 4-12) never fully recovered, pulling no closer than four points after digging a big opening hole.
Nick Johnson scored 23 points, Mark Lyons added 16 and Solomon Hill 13 for Arizona, which made only 5 of 24 3-point attempts.
Tony Parker scored on a three-point play, Muhammad dropped in a 3-pointer and UCLA pushed the lead to 70-60 with about four minutes left.
AROUND THE NATION
• NO. 2 MICHIGAN PULLS AWAY - At Ann Arbor, Mich., Trey Burke had 15 points and eight assists, and No. 2 Michigan (18-1, 5-1 Big Ten) used a 14-2 second-half surge to pull away for a 68-53 victory over Purdue (10-9, 3-3).
• NO. 10 GONZAGA BLASTS BYU - At Spokane, Wash., Kelly Olynyk scored 26 points and Elias Harris 25 as No. 10 Gonzaga (18-2, 5-0) routed Brigham Young 83-63 in a clash for the West Coast Conference lead. Josh Sharp and Brandon Davies led BYU (15-6, 5-2) with 14 points each. WCC scoring leader Tyler Haws was held to one point, shooting 0-for-9 from the field.
• SPIDERS SURPRISE NO. 19 VCU IN OT - At Richmond, Va., Kendall Anthony scored 21 of his 26 points after halftime, and Darien Brothers hit 3-pointers late in regulation and in overtime as Richmond (13-7, 3-2 Atlantic 10) gained an 86-74 win over No. 19 Virginia Commonwealth (16-4, 4-1). The Rams had won 13 in a row.
