Holiday's 3-Pointer Sends UCLA Past Arizona State
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Isaac Hamilton scored 26 points, Aaron Holiday hit the tiebreaking 3-pointer with just over a minute remaining, and UCLA outlasted Arizona State 81-74 on Saturday afternoon.
Holiday's 3-pointer from the top of the circle broke a 74-74 tie with 1:13 left. The shot was the last of nine lead changes in the final nine minutes. Bryce Alford added a 3-pointer with 24 seconds left to seal it.
The dramatic victory comes two days after Alford hit a game-winning 3-pointer in the final seconds to upset No. 7 Arizona.
Alford finished with 18 points, Thomas Welsh had 12 points and a career-high 16 rebounds, and Holiday had 10 points for the Bruins (11-6, 2-2 Pac-12).
Tra Holder scored a career-high 26 points and Kodi Justice added 11 points to lead the Sun Devils (10-6, 0-3)
UCLA went into halftime with a 38-37 lead, one that could have been much larger.
The Bruins led 30-18 with 5:15 left but the Sun Devils closed on a 19-8 run, spurred by seven consecutive points from Holder.
ASU kept its momentum through the break. After a Holder free throw, Willie Atwood hit a tiebreaking 3-pointer to put the Sun Devils up 41-38, their first lead since three minutes into the game.
Holder followed with a jumper and added two free throws and Kodi Justice hit a 3 as the Sun Devils capped a 30-13 run wrapped around halftime to go up 48-43.
That turned out to just be the beginning of the drama.
Down the stretch Holder, Justice, Hamilton and Alford traded big shots throughout until it was 74-74. Tony Parker missed the potential go-ahead layup for UCLA inside the final two minutes but Welsh came down with the offensive rebound and dished it out to Holiday at the top of the circle, and the freshman guard drained the go-ahead basket.
Justice missed the tying 3-point attempt for ASU, and Alford gained control at the other end and drained a 3-pointer from the right wing to ice it.
The Bruins finished 9 of 18 from 3-point range and made four of their final six.
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TIP-INS
Arizona State: Only nine players dressed for the game. ... The Sun Devils had lost their first two conference games by double digits. .Atwood finished with five points on 2 of 11 shooting. He averaged 13.3 points the previous six games.
UCLA: Hamilton reached double figures for the 13th straight game. .Welsh recorded his seventh double-double of the season and third in four conference games. .The Bruins improved to 65-19 all-time against the Sun Devils and have won eight of the last 10.
UP NEXT
Arizona State hosts Washington State on Thursday.
UCLA hosts USC on Wednesday.
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