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

Courtney Ramey made a 3-pointer with 16.7 seconds left to put Arizona in front and the eighth-ranked Wildcats beat No. 2 UCLA 61-59 in the Pac-12 championship game
Arizona players celebrate after defeating UCLA in an NCAA college basketball game for the...
Arizona players celebrate after defeating UCLA in an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the men's Pac-12 Tournament, Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens)(AP)
Published: Mar. 13, 2023 at 2:23 PM MST
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LAS VEGAS (AP) — Courtney Ramey had missed all four of his previous 3-point attempts Saturday night when the ball wound up back in his hands at the most critical moment.

Ramey shook a defender and then calmly drilled one from the top of the key with 16.7 seconds left to put Arizona in front. The eighth-ranked Wildcats hung on from there, beating No. 2 UCLA 61-59 in the Pac-12 championship game.

“I kept telling myself, the next shot is going in," Ramey said. “My job was to make a play.”

The Wildcats (28-6) boosted their case for a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament. UCLA (29-5) still hopes to land the No. 1 seed in the West and return to Las Vegas in two weeks for the regional.

It was the second year in a row Arizona beat UCLA in the Pac-12 title game.

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

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

Ramey's 3-pointer put the Wildcats ahead 60-58. The clutch shot came after teammate Azuolas Tubelis missed a 3 that was rebounded by Pelle Larsson, who got the ball to Ramey.

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

“Wide-open shot to win the game,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said. “Tyger’s beating himself up over a missed free throw, but that had nothing to do with some of our bad fouls and defensive breakdowns. Those are controllables. I’ll take Tyger at the line and put my career on the line with Tyger at the line.”

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

Amari Bailey led top-seeded UCLA with 19 points. Campbell scored 16 and Jaime Jaquez Jr. had 13 points and 10 rebounds.

The Bruins knew coming in they wouldn't have guard Jaylen Clark (lower leg) or Adem Bona (shoulder), and their problems only mounted when two of Bona's replacements in the post got into foul trouble.

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

Arizona wasn't completely healthy, either. Point guard Kerr Kriisa has been playing with a balky shoulder this tournament.

POSTGAME COMMOTION

An Arizona fan was yelling at Cronin's dad, Hep, after the game, according to UCLA radio broadcaster Josh Lewin. When a reporter told Cronin afterward, he immediately left the postgame news conference. Athletic director Martin Jarmond quickly followed him.

BIG PICTURE

Arizona: The Wildcats entered the game just 10 3-pointers behind their school record set in the 2010-11 season. But long-range shots didn't fall for them against the Bruins until the end. Arizona went 6 of 20 from beyond the arc.

UCLA: The question is the health of Clark and Bona. Cronin won't provide any information other than saying before the Pac-12 Tournament that Clark wouldn't play. UCLA was easily the class of the Pac-12 this season, but not having those players was quite noticeable, especially against Arizona.

UP NEXT

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.

___

AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis holds up a piece of the net after the team's win over UCLA in...
Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis holds up a piece of the net after the team's win over UCLA in an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the men's Pac-12 Tournament on Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens)(AP)
UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) passes the ball as Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) and Arizona...
UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) passes the ball as Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) and Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) defend during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Pac-12 tournament, Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens)(AP)
UCLA guard Amari Bailey (5) drives the ball under pressure from Arizona forward Azuolas...
UCLA guard Amari Bailey (5) drives the ball under pressure from Arizona forward Azuolas Tubelis, second from right, and Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa (25) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Pac-12 tournament, Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens)(AP)
Arizona guard Cedric Henderson Jr., top, and UCLA guard David Singleton (34) vie for a rebound...
Arizona guard Cedric Henderson Jr., top, and UCLA guard David Singleton (34) vie for a rebound during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the men's Pac-12 Tournament, Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens)(AP)
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) drives the ball against UCLA forward Kenneth Nwuba (14) during...
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) drives the ball against UCLA forward Kenneth Nwuba (14) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Pac-12 tournament, Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens)(AP)
UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24) reacts after an Arizona player was called for an offensive...
UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24) reacts after an Arizona player was called for an offensive foul against UCLA forward Kenneth Nwuba, below, during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the men's Pac-12 Tournament, Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens)(AP)
UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) reacts after drawing a foul on a shot against Arizona during the...
UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) reacts after drawing a foul on a shot against Arizona during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Pac-12 tournament, Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens)(AP)
Arizona guard Cedric Henderson Jr. (45) drives the ball against UCLA guard David Singleton (34)...
Arizona guard Cedric Henderson Jr. (45) drives the ball against UCLA guard David Singleton (34) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the championship of the Pac-12 tournament, Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens)(AP)
UCLA coach Mick Cronin shouts during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game...
UCLA coach Mick Cronin shouts during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against Arizona for the championship of the men's Pac-12 Tournament, Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens)(AP)