UCLA Holds Off Arizona State In OT
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jordan Adams scored 22 points, Kyle Anderson had a career-high 21 points and 15 rebounds, and UCLA held off Arizona State 79-74 in overtime on Wednesday night to gain a share of the Pac-12 lead.
Adams scored six points in overtime, hitting a crucial layup when the Bruins were clinging to a one-point lead. Evan Gordon and Jonathan Gilling both missed 3-pointers, and Adams grabbed the defensive rebound, got fouled and made both free throws with 26 seconds left.
Shabazz Muhammad added 21 points and Larry Drew II had 13 assists for the Bruins (21-7, 11-4 Pac-12), who got help joining idle Oregon in the top spot when USC upset No. 11 Arizona 89-78.
Jahii Carson scored 22 points, Gilling tied his career high with six 3-pointers and finished with 18 points, and Carrick Felix had 16 points and a career-high 18 rebounds for the Sun Devils (20-9, 9-7).
The Bruins controlled overtime, outscoring ASU 9-4. They have won three straight and five of six.
UCLA led 67-62 before Arizona State ran off six straight points, taking a 68-67 lead on Carson's free throw that completed a three-point play after he was fouled by Adams.
Adams answered with a 3-pointer that put the Bruins back in front, 70-68, with 1:24 to play. But Drew turned the ball over and Gilling found Carson on the break for the tying layup with 39 seconds to go.
After a timeout, David Wear missed the go-ahead jumper for UCLA with 6 seconds left. Carson snagged the defensive rebound, dribbled furiously down the court and put up a jumper that hit the rim as regulation expired.
The Sun Devils beat UCLA by 18 points last month in the desert and led much of the game, but they couldn't complete their first sweep of UCLA since 2008-09. They have lost two in a row and four of five.
Jordan Bachynski, who had career highs in points (22) and rebounds (15) in the win over UCLA, finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Muhammad scored the game's first five points before Gilling began firing from long range. He made four 3-pointers -- two off his career high -- in about 3 1/2 minutes as part of a 23-9 run that gave Arizona State a 23-14 lead -- its largest of the first half. The Bruins rallied on Muhammad's 8-0 run, including two 3-pointers, and 3-pointers by Adams and Anderson to take their first lead since the start of the game, 39-37.
But that lasted mere seconds as Carson scored the Sun Devils' final four points to put them back in front 41-39 at the break.
UCLA starting forward Travis Wear missed his second straight game with a right foot injury. It's likely he'll return for Saturday's game against Arizona.
Los Angeles Lakers star Pau Gasol and Ricky Rubio of the Minnesota Timberwolves attended the game together.
(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
