UCLA drops second straight Pac-12 opener in 2OT loss at UW

Posted on by

For the second straight year, UCLA stumbled in its Pac-12 opener.

The No. 25 Bruins hung on for two overtimes at Washington on Friday night, but couldn’t force a third in a 96-93 loss in Seattle. It marked the Huskies’ first win against Steve Alford, leaving USC as the only Pac-12 team that has yet to beat the third-year UCLA coach.

Alford is now 7-12 in conference road games with the Bruins. He has yet to sweep a series away from Pauley Pavilion.

Washington guard Andrew Andrews tied his career high with a game-high 35 points, shooting seven of 19 from the field and 17 of 19 from the line. The senior, who leads the Pac-12 in scoring, was responsible for seven of of UW’s final 11 points.

UCLA point guard Bryce Alford started the night by missing 12 of his first 13 shots, but drilled a pair of threes in the final 22 seconds of regulation to tie the game. With 16 seconds left in the extra period, the junior hit a third. These were the Bruins’ only 3-pointers of the night.

Alford led the team with 30 points, but only converted five of his 21 field goal attempts. He had one assist and seven turnovers. He did, however, make 17 of 18 free throws — giving the Bruins crucial points in a game bogged down by fouls.

UCLA and Washington combined to commit 64 fouls. Four players fouled out. Six more were just one whistle away. Bruin center Thomas Welsh and reserve forward Jonah Bolden both picked up their fourth foul in the first three minutes of the second half.

Welsh finished with his fifth double-double of the season, recording 19 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. He shot eight of 11 from the floor, but almost none of his teammates were nearly as efficient.

Junior guard Isaac Hamilton went five of 13, missing a potential game-tying shot with eight seconds on the game clock. Senior forward Tony Parker shot three of 14, and five of 10 from the line.