With just under 10 minutes remaining in the Kentucky-UCLA game Thursday night at Pauley Pavilion, Bruins freshman guard Prince Ali drove uncontested through the lane and emphatically dunked on Kentucky’s Alex Poythress.
That more than anything symbolized what UCLA did to No. 1 Kentucky en route to an 87-77 victory in front of a crowd that included Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Jessica Alba.
The Bruins (5-3) — who lost at home to Monmouth and to Kansas and Wake Forest at the Maui Invitational — became the first team this season to beat the young Wildcats (7-1). It was UCLA’s first win over a No. 1-ranked team since they beat Arizona on March 13, 2003.
UCLA shot 26-for-34 from the charity stripe, while Kentucky went 19-for-25.
“This was big for us,” UCLA coach Steve Alford told ESPN. “We’ve been gradually showing some growth. I’ve said all along, I think we’re going to be pretty good by the time we get to January, and our guys needed this. They needed this for their confidence to see the growth that’s really happening.”
It was quite a reversal from a year ago when Kentucky and their seven NBA players embarrassed UCLA, 83-44, in Chicago.
“I got outcoached, we got outplayed,” Kentucky coach John Calipari said, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader.
“There’s not much (positive) you take out of this. Five-hour trip home. That should be fun.”
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Sophomore center Thomas Welsh went for 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Bruins. Bryce Alford had 15 points, five rebounds and four assists, Isaac Hamilton added 15 points and Aaron Holiday had 10 points and eight rebounds. Tony Parker added 11 points.
“The big fella [Welsh] is playing at a high level,” Alford said. “We went pick-and-pop with him just for today just because of the pick-and-roll coverage, we thought we could get him in pick-and-pop. They haven’t really had to guard a guy like Tom that makes shot after shot after shot. He’s got a great jump hook, he makes his foul shots, he’s just really hard to play against.”
Isaiah Briscoe led Kentucky with 20 points and Jamal Murray scored 17. In his first game back after suffering a hyper-extended right elbow last Friday against South Florida, sophomore point guard Tyler Ulis had nine points and nine assists.
“This team is very fast,” Alford said. “Cal and his staff do an incredible job, this team’s really good. This is their first road game. We got a break in that it was their first legit road game. Very fortunate to get the win and just really happy for our guys.”
Kentucky freshman big man Skal Labissiere, projected by some as the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft, managed just six points and one rebound.
Apparently frustrated with Labissiere’s soft play, Ulis shoved him at one stage during a timeout and appeared to say, “Get the ball.”
Tyler Ulis has had about enough of this. pic.twitter.com/7JDH5VurKE
– T.J. Beisner (@Beisner_cn2) December 4, 2015
”Once he starts fighting for us,” Ulis said, “we’re going to be hard to beat.”
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