UCLA UCLA/Arizona Arizona Men's College Basketball recap on ESPN

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) _ Gilbert Arenas scored 18 of his 22 points in the second half and No. 17 Arizona used a tight, harassing defense to turn an eight-point halftime deficit into a 88-63 rout of UCLA on Saturday.

The Wildcats (13-5, 5-1 Pac-10), who have won four in a row, outscored the Bruins 55-22 in the second half to hand UCLA its first conference loss and snap its six-game winning streak.

Arizona swept a pair of home games from Southern California and the Bruins in coach Lute Olson's return to the court. Olson had missed five games during the illness and death of his wife of 47 years, Bobbi.

UCLA (10-5, 4-1) entered the game with the longest winning streak in coach Steve Lavin's five seasons at the school.

But in the final stages of the Bruins' second-half disaster, Arizona's band was chanting "Rick Pi-ti-no, Rick Pi-ti-no," a reference to the former Boston Celtics coach purportedly interested in Lavin's job.

UCLA shot 54 percent from the field in the first half (15-for-28), and 24 percent (9-for-37) in the second.

Arizona shot 57 percent in the first half on 15-of-26.

Richard Jefferson added 12 points and shut down UCLA's top offensive threat Jason Kapono, who made just 2-of-14 shots for a season-low four points. Loren Woods had 12 points and nine rebounds for Arizona, while Michael Wright added 10 points.

Luke Walton scored 11 points and keyed the second-half defensive stand that led to the big turnaround.

Jason Gardner had an awful game for Arizona. He missed his first 10 shots, all 3-pointers, before sinking his last one from 3-point range.

Reserve Ray Young scored 18 for the Bruins, 13 in the first half. Another substitute, Ryan Bailey scored a career-high 13 for UCLA.

Arizona's starters outscored the Bruins starters 62-26.

UCLA missed its first 10 shots of the second half, and Arizona was off on a 20-6 outburst that put the Wildcats up 53-47 with 10:23 to play.

Arenas, who drew two early fouls and played just six minutes in the first half, sank a 3-pointer to put Arizona ahead for good 48-47 with 12:23 to play. He followed with another 3-pointer, then Wright capped the surge with two free throws.

Jefferson's 3-pointer, and another basket by Arenas, made it 77-57 with 4:05 remaining, and Olson called off the attack.

UCLA outscored Arizona 11-2 over the final 3:11 of the first half to lead 41-33 at the break, even though Kapono had just two points on 1-for-5 shooting.

The Bruins shot 54 percent from the field in the first half (15-for-28). Reserve Ray Young scored 13 in the first 20 minutes, including three of four 3-pointers. Young was shooting 21 percent (12-for-56) from 3-point range going into the game.

Meanwhile, Gardner was 0-for-7 in the first half, all 3-pointers.

The Wildcats were 1-for-12 on 3-pointers in the first half, compared with UCLA's 6-for-10.

ALSO SEE
Men's College Basketball Scoreboard

UCLA Clubhouse

Arizona Clubhouse