PHOENIX — On a Saturday afternoon, a familiar yet strange rivalry took center stage. UCLA and Arizona engaged in another classic battle that seemed to have elements of the bizarre. In a sequence that would make one do a double-take, like seeing a fan drinking beer from a shoe on the video board inside the Footprint Center, the Bruins managed to stage an incredible comeback from what appeared to be certain defeat.

UCLA's Struggle and Redemption

Just minutes before Skyy Clark's late free throws and the Bruins' celebration of a 57 - 54 victory, the No. 24 Bruins seemed to have forgotten the fundamentals of basketball. Committing one foul after another and sending the Wildcats to the free - throw line repeatedly while unable to generate any offense of their own, the Bruins lost their mojo and found themselves trailing by 13 points midway through the second half. "I think there are times," UCLA coach Mick Cronin said, "when you forget who you are or what it's about, what it takes to win games."However, the Bruins rediscovered themselves with seconds to spare. A renewed commitment to defense and a flurry of Tyler Bilodeau baskets were enough to help UCLA (9 - 1) roll off an eighth consecutive victory. The Bruins finished the game on a 21 - 5 run, holding the Wildcats (4 - 5) without a field goal over the final 8:46 and forcing nine turnovers over the last 12 minutes. "It just shows a lot of toughness, a lot of grit, a lot of character with our guys," Bilodeau said after the Bruins held Arizona to its fewest points in coach Tommy Lloyd's four seasons. "We didn't give up."Bilodeau's performance was a key factor in the Bruins' comeback. He rewarded his teammates for continually putting the ball in his hands, scoring 12 of his 17 points in the second half. There were putbacks, layups, and a baseline jumper as the Bruins increased their defensive intensity. His baseline jump hook with 1:42 left capped a 15 - 1 run and gave the Bruins a 55 - 52 advantage before Arizona's K.J. Lewis made two free throws to shave the Wildcats' deficit to a point.

Arizona's Challenges

For the Wildcats, it was a game of ups and downs. Guard Jaden Bradley finished with 12 points, but the team committed 22 turnovers and didn't get nearly enough out of leading scorer Caleb Love. UCLA held its longtime nemesis to seven points on three - for - 10 shooting, including one of seven from long range. After blowing a double - digit lead against Oregon only to prevail in the final second on Dylan Andrews' shot, UCLA showed it could win in equally breathless fashion against the Wildcats.

UCLA's Resounding Ally

UCLA found its own resounding ally in forward Kobe Johnson. He told his teammates they were going to win even after they fell behind by double digits. "Kobe was a big, big reason for that," said Clark, who finished with a season - high 15 points. "In the huddles, in the timeouts, dead balls, he was just telling us to not give up and we're going to come back, we're going to win. I mean, that energy is infectious and so it just spread throughout the whole team."In the final seconds, less than a week after his winning three - pointer against Oregon, UCLA's Dylan Andrews hoisted another shot from long range. This shot was off the mark, but Clark chased down the rebound in the corner, dribbled toward the perimeter and was fouled with 6.1 seconds to go. As he approached the free - throw line for the foul shots that would extend UCLA's cushion to three points, Clark's routine was simple - "really, just deep breaths and thinking of Cronin."Lewis' three - pointer that could have tied the score wasn't close and the Bruins could celebrate a triumph amid unlikely circumstances. The nonconference game between former Pac - 12 rivals was technically considered at a neutral site, though basketball analyst Ken Pomeroy's designating it as "semi - home" for Arizona only began to capture the essence of the scene. Loud "U of A!" chants from a crowd awash in red first broke out in the latter part of the first half with the Wildcats in the midst of a big run. The volume would only rise from there as Arizona's 21 - 6 push in the second half prompted Lloyd to flap his arms to increase the decibel level.In his remarks after the game, Cronin mentioned the teams combining for 36 turnovers and only six three - pointers, saying it was not a thing of beauty. But that all changed when his team forged the perfect ending.