No. 5 UCLA began its season with a significant upset, defeating rival No. 5 Arizona 84-75 in a hard-fought contest at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The Bruins, playing shorthanded and battling foul trouble throughout the game, showcased a resilient performance to secure the victory in the Hall of Fame Series.
Despite facing adversity, including freshman Joe Philon III and Xavier Booker burying crucial three-pointers and Eric Dailey Jr. converting a key dunk, UCLA managed to hold off a late surge from Arizona. With a lead that had shrunk to three points with less than a minute remaining, the Bruins sealed the win with a clutch block, free throws, and a pivotal inbounds pass.
Guard Trent Perry led UCLA with 21 points, making all 11 of his free throws, while Dailey and Jaylen Petty contributed 13 points each. Arizona's Ivan Kharkchenkov scored 38 points in the losing effort.
The victory marked a strong start for UCLA (1-0), who had struggled to secure high-quality nonconference wins the previous season. The win also held significance for the Bruins in an arena that had previously been a site of disappointment, including losses in the Pac-12 tournament and the 2023 NCAA Sweet Sixteen.
UCLA played without forward Filip Jovic, who sprained his ankle in practice on Friday. The team also contended with significant foul trouble, with multiple players accumulating fouls early in the game. In response, the Bruins employed a zone defense that proved effective against Arizona, and they capitalized on a 14-0 run in the first half, highlighted by a four-point play from Sergej Macura.