With 1:29 left in UCLA men’s basketball’s win over Arizona State on Sunday, Sun Devils guard Jahii Carson drove the ball into the paint and hoisted it up for a floater when it came to an abrupt stop. Read more...

Photo: UCLA men’s basketball has demonstrated a significantly improved rebound game in its past three contests against USC, Arizona and Arizona State. Coach Steve Alford noted how the entire team has contributed on the boards, including sophomore guard/forward Kyle Anderson, freshman guard Bryce Alford and sophomore guard Jordan Adams.

The buck didn’t just stop with Arizona State’s visit, it came to a screeching halt. After dropping a 79-75 decision to No. 1 Arizona on Thursday that was full of white-knuckled intensity and emotion, UCLA men’s basketball fought off some early flatness and surged to a 17-point halftime lead before coasting to an 87-72 victory. Read more...

Photo: UCLA looked improved on defense against Arizona State, holding the Sun Devils to 43 percent shooting.

Another big-time opponent, another tally in the loss column for UCLA basketball. In a 79-75 loss, the Bruins’ first at home this season, the sequence momentarily appeared to be a rerun of UCLA’s previous defeats this season: face some adversity, turn the ball over and stand idly by as the game is pushed out of reach by a hungrier opponent. Read more...

Photo: Arizona sophomore center Kaleb Tarczewski puts the ball into the basket over UCLA sophomore forward/center Tony Parker. The Bruins fell to the Wildcats 79-75 on Thursday night.