Arizona vs. UCLA: Score, Highlights and Reaction from 2016 Regular Season

The UCLA Bruins entered Thursday night having lost three of their last four games, but that rough stretch didn't stop them from picking up one of their biggest wins of the 2015-16 season. The Bruins upset the seventh-ranked Arizona Wildcats 87-84 at home.

Bryce Alford was the hero, hitting the game-winning three-pointer with 1.8 seconds remaining. Alford savored the moment, calmly walking by an elated Russell Westbrook, who was in attendance at Pauley Pavilion, per Pac-12 Networks:   

ESPN's Jeff Goodman praised the junior guard's ability to play well in the clutch:

UCLA didn't make things easy for itself late in the game. The home team led by 13 points with four minutes, 25 seconds left in the second half before Arizona went on a 15-2 run capped off by a Kadeem Allen layup and free throw to complete the three-point play. Pac-12 Networks summed up the anxiety rushing through both fanbases:

Isaac Hamilton gave UCLA a one-point lead after hitting one of two free throws. At the other end, Ryan Anderson had a chance to put the Wildcats ahead but could only tie the game from the charity stripe. Even if he had hit both free throws, Alford's three still would've propelled the Bruins to victory.

Four different UCLA starters scored in double figures. Alford led the way with 25 points on 9-of-18 shooting, including 5-of-11 shooting from three-point range. Tony Parker registered a double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

As a team, the Bruins shot 50 percent (11-of-22) beyond the arc, which was a decisive factor in the result. In comparison, Arizona was a more pedestrian 6-of-17.

Anderson did his best to see Arizona's comeback through to the end. He finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds, leading the Wildcats in both categories. Kaleb Tarczewski was also big off the bench, chipping in 12 points and 12 boards.

This victory must be equal parts encouraging and frustrating for Bruins fans. It's difficult not to get excited when your team knocks off a Top 10 opponent, but as ESPN's Jeff Borzello noted, UCLA should be playing like this on a more regular basis:

The team saves its best basketball for its toughest opponents, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Given the Bruins' uneven play, CBS Sports' Matt Norlander isn't so sure this is a turning point in their season:

UCLA has winnable games against Arizona State, USC, Oregon State and Oregon ahead. Beating Gonzaga, Kentucky and Arizona will look great when the Bruins are putting together their NCAA tournament resume, but their games against their Pac-12 competition will likely be the difference between being included in or excluded from the Big Dance.

Head coach Steve Alford's team can't afford too many more defeats to unranked opponents; otherwise, it jeopardizes its chances of playing meaningful basketball come March.

The loss will be frustrating for Arizona, but Wildcats head coach Sean Miller can still be encouraged by the way his team finished the game. Arizona's players could've packed it in after going down 13 points late in the second half. Instead, they slowly chipped away at the deficit and nearly won.

As long as the Wildcats don't follow this with a few more defeats over the rest of the month, they'll still be the favorites to claim the regular-season Pac-12 crown.

Postgame Reaction

"Obviously probably the biggest shot of my career," said Bryce Alford of his game-winner, per Joey Kaufman of the Orange County Register.

Parker talked about how he knew Alford was going to heave the shot up the entire time.

"Once he gets into that little stutter, and he bobs his head, you know it’s going up," he said, per Kaufman.

Heading into the contest, UCLA ranked 96th in field-goal percentage (45.7 percent). Given how well the Bruins shot the ball, you can understand why Miller would be so upset with how his team played defensively. Matt Moreno of GoAZCats.com relayed the coach's thoughts:

"We didn't switch Kaleb Tarczewski on Bryce Alford," said Miller, per the Daily Wildcat's Ezra Amacher. "You literally have to be out of your mind to do that."