Arizona @ UCLA preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 9, 2018 ) UCLA 67, Arizona 78

Two traditional Pac-12 powers looking for a spark meet Saturday as Arizona visits UCLA, which has lost three in a row under interim coach Murry Bartow. Arizona has exceeded expectations for much of the season but took a step back on Thursday, shooting a season-worst 27.8 percent from the field in an 80-57 loss to USC.

UCLA appeared re-energized after Bartow took over for Steve Alford prior to the conference opener, averaging 92 points in wins over Stanford, California and Oregon. The Bruins followed the strong start by averaging just 68.7 points in losses to Oregon State, USC and Arizona State, but Bartow remains encouraged by his team’s effort. “These players are working their tails off,” Bartow told reporters. “I wish everybody could be at practices. These guys work hard, their spirit’s great, their energy’s great. We’ve just got to play a little bit better.” Sophomore guard Kris Wilkes is averaging a team-high 16.9 points for the Bruins, who will be facing an Arizona team eager to salvage its Los Angeles road swing after shooting 5-of-25 from 3-point range in Thursday’s ugly loss to the Trojans.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT ARIZONA (14-6, 5-2 Pac-12): The Wildcats were dominated on the boards against USC without 6-10 center Chase Jeter, who averages 12.6 points and 7.2 rebounds but sat out due to a back injury and is listed as day-to-day. Guard Brandon Randolph and forward Ira Lee scored 12 points apiece in the contest, but the Wildcats struggled against the Trojans’ zone defense and suffered their third-biggest loss in a conference game under coach Sean Miller. Freshman guard Brandon Williams leads the team in scoring (13.0) during Pac-12 play but was held to eight points on 3-of-13 shooting on Thursday.

ABOUT UCLA (10-9, 3-3): The Bruins have lost seven of their last 10 games and need more production from 7-1 freshman Moses Brown, who averages 11.1 points and 8.6 rebounds but has been a non-factor over the past three contests. Forward Jalen Hill started in place of struggling sophomore Chris Smith on Thursday and recorded eight rebounds and five points while battling foul trouble. Bartow also gave an extended look to 6-9 freshman Cody Riley, who had six points and a team-high 10 rebounds off the bench.

TIP-INS

1. UCLA lost to Arizona in the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals last season but owns a 56-44 lead in the overall series.

2. Arizona leads the Pac-12 in free throw percentage (74.8) while UCLA is last at 60.4 percent.

3. UCLA is 103-13 when leading at halftime since the start of the 2013-14 season.

PREDICTION: Arizona 74, UCLA 71