Turnovers doom Cats

Bruins move into tie for 1st place in Pac-12

LOS ANGELES — Shabazz Muhammad grabbed a defensive rebound, got fouled and made both free throws with 9 seconds remaining, helping UCLA hang on for a 7469 victory over No. 11 Arizona on Saturday night that moved the Bruins into a first-place tie with idle Oregon in the Pac-12.

The star freshman finished with 18 points as UCLA fans chanted “One more year” in reference to Muhammad’s likely early departure for the NBA draft.

I knew going into this deal that this was a one-year deal and it should be,” Bruins coach Ben Howland said. “He’s a top-five pick. When you have that going for you, it’s absolutely the right thing for him. That was absolutely his last game in Pauley Pavilion. I know that, he knows that, we all know that. We want the season to go as long as possible for him.”

Muhammad and his father said after the game that he hasn’t made a decision about his immediate future.

“It’s still a long season of basketball. I’m just going to enjoy this win,” he said, adding that he heard the fans weighing in.

Kyle Anderson added 17 points, Larry Drew II had 14 points and nine assists in the senior’s final home game for the Bruins, and David Wear had nine points and 10 rebounds.

Grant Jerrett hit four 3-pointers in scoring 14 points, Mark Lyons added 13, and Kevin Parrom 11 for the Wildcats (23-6, 11-6 Pac-12), who committed 16 turnovers in coach Sean Miller’s 300th career game. He is 212-88 overall and 9241in nine seasons in the desert. The Wildcats dropped the season series, having lost 84-73 in Tucson in January.

UCLA (22-7, 12-4) took control with a 15-5 run to open the second half before Arizona rallied with a 10-2 run to get to 72-69.

Drew dribbled down to kill time but then turned the ball over before UCLA could get off a shot with 24 seconds left. Lyons missed a jumper and Muhammad grabbed the rebound and fell to the floor while getting fouled by Nick Johnson.

Muhammad made both for a 7469 lead, and the Wildcats turned the ball over on their final possession.

UCLA broke a four-point game open with its second-half run. Drew scored six points on two 3pointers, Muhammad had five points and Wear four as the Bruins took a 55-41 lead.

The Wildcats rallied with a 13-4 spurt that included two 3-pointers by Johnson and another by Parrom that closed them to 59-54.

But Muhammad answered with a 3-pointer and Wear hit one several seconds later for a 67-56 lead, keeping the Wildcats in catch-up mode for most of the game.

Arizona concluded a losing weekend in Los Angeles, having been beaten 89-78 by USC on Wednesday night. The Wildcats have lost four of their last seven games, with only rival Arizona State to play next weekend before the Pac-12 tournament begins in Las Vegas.