Colorado stymies UCLA at Pauley Pavilion

UCLA guard Kris Wilkes, right, shoots as Colorado forward Lucas Siewert defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, in Los Angeles. Colorado won 68-59. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

The hottest offense in the Pac-12 heaved long 3s the same way UCLA had done during its past two games to great success. On Saturday, it didn’t work.

After entering Saturday’s game against Colorado as the top scoring offense in Pac-12 play, the Bruins fell flat in a 68-59 loss that moved them out of first place in the conference standings.

UCLA (13-5, 4-2 Pac-12) was just 5-for-25 from 3-point range while Colorado was 11-for-22.

Thomas Welsh, who had 20 points on 9-for-10 shooting and eight rebounds, gave the Bruins their only consistent offense to match Colorado’s George King (26 points, 10 rebounds). Aaron Holiday had 10 points, but turned the ball over six times.

“That was as poor as we’ve played all year,” head coach Steve Alford said. “Outside of Tom we just didn’t have much as far as good concentrated effort. Obviously, you’re not going to win at this level when you don’t have enough guys collectively to do that, but I take responsibility for that.”

Links to wrap up the game: