Ramey lifts No. 8 Arizona over No. 2 UCLA for Pac-12 title

LAS VEGAS(AP) — Courtney Ramey had missed all four of his previous 3-pointattempts Saturday night when the ball wound up back in his hands atthe most critical moment.

Ramey shooka defender and then calmly drilled one from the top of the key with16.7 seconds left to put Arizona in front. The eighth-rankedWildcats hung on from there, beating No. 2 UCLA 61-59 in the Pac-12championship game.

“I kepttelling myself, the next shot is going in,” Ramey said. “My job wasto make a play.”

TheWildcats (28-6) boosted their case for a No. 2 seed in the NCAATournament. UCLA (29-5) still hopes to land the No. 1 seed in theWest and return to Las Vegas in two weeks for the regional.

It was thesecond year in a row Arizona beat UCLA in the Pac-12 titlegame.

Arizonasecond-year coach Tommy Lloyd can’t lose in Las Vegas. He is 9-0 inthis city, 8-0 at T-Mobile Arena and 6-0 in the Pac-12Tournament.

“It was aknock down, drag out and I had a feeling it was going to be thatway,” Lloyd said. “So much respect for the UCLA program. Obviously,they’re going through a lot of injury stuff right now, but they’reresilient and I knew it was going to be like that.”

Ramey’s3-pointer put the Wildcats ahead 60-58. The clutch shot came afterteammate Azuolas Tubelis missed a 3 that was rebounded by PelleLarsson, who got the ball to Ramey.

UCLA guardTyger Campbell was fouled with 6.8 seconds left, and he made thefirst free throw but missed the second. Tubelis hit one of two freethrows with 5.8 seconds to go, and UCLA’s Dylan Andrews missed a 3at the buzzer to ensure Arizona’s victory.

“Wide-openshot to win the game,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said. “Tyger’sbeating himself up over a missed free throw, but that had nothingto do with some of our bad fouls and defensive breakdowns. Thoseare controllables. I’ll take Tyger at the line and put my career onthe line with Tyger at the line.”

Tubelis,the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, had 19 points and 14rebounds for second-seeded Arizona. Oumar Ballo scored 13 pointsand Larsson had 11.

AmariBailey led top-seeded UCLA with 19 points. Campbell scored 16 andJaime Jaquez Jr. had 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The Bruinsknew coming in they wouldn’t have guard Jaylen Clark (lower leg) orAdem Bona (shoulder), and their problems only mounted when two ofBona’s replacements in the post got into foul trouble.

Mac Etienneand Kenneth Nwuba each had four fouls in the second half, forcingCronin to play at least one of them. Etienne fouled out with 9:35left and Nwuba with 4:27 remaining, meaning the Bruins had to playwith a smaller lineup the rest of the game.

Arizonawasn’t completely healthy, either. Point guard Kerr Kriisa has beenplaying with a balky shoulder this tournament.

POSTGAME COMMOTION

An Arizonafan was yelling at Cronin’s dad, Hep, after the game, according toUCLA radio broadcaster Josh Lewin. When a reporter told Croninafterward, he immediately left the postgame news conference.Athletic director Martin Jarmond quickly followed him.

BIGPICTURE

Arizona:The Wildcats entered the game just 10 3-pointers behind theirschool record set in the 2010-11 season. But long-range shotsdidn’t fall for them against the Bruins until the end. Arizona went6 of 20 from beyond the arc.

UCLA: Thequestion is the health of Clark and Bona. Cronin won’t provide anyinformation other than saying before the Pac-12 Tournament thatClark wouldn’t play. UCLA was easily the class of the Pac-12 thisseason, but not having those players was quite noticeable,especially against Arizona.

UPNEXT

Arizona:Likely will be a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

UCLA:Almost certainly a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the NCAA tourney.