UCLA holds on to beat UNLV, 77-75

Bryce Alford and Thomas Welsh scored 20 points each, and UCLA went 10 for 10 from the free throw line over the final 90 seconds in a 77-75 victory over UNLV on Monday night in the opening round of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational.

Aaron Holiday made eight of the free throws and Welsh added two for the Bruins (2-1), who play No. 5 Kansas, a 123-72 winner over Chaminade, in the semifinals on Tuesday.

UCLA took the lead for good on a 3-pointer by Isaac Hamilton that made it 67-65 with 3:21 to play. The Bruins then went to work at the free throw line led by Holiday, who finished with 18 points.

Patrick McCaw had 20 points for the Runnin’ Rebels (3-1) including two 3s in the final 6 seconds. The second came with 0.5 seconds to play and made it 77-75.

Stephen Zimmerman Jr. had 10 points and a career-high 13 rebounds for UNLV, which didn’t score from the 6-minute mark until Zimmerman’s rebound basket with 44 seconds left made it 71-67. The Runnin’ Rebels missed four shots from the field, one free throw and committed two turnovers in that span.

The game was sloppy throughout, with UCLA committing 19 turnovers and UNLV 16.

Welsh finished 9 of 12 from the field and UCLA was 23 for 24 from the free throw line. UNLV was 14 of 22 from the line.

The Runnin’ Rebels went 9 of 29 from 3-point range while the Bruins were 4 of 10.

TIP-INS

UNLV: This is the Runnin’ Rebels’ third appearance in the Maui Invitational and they entered the game with a 3-3 record in the tournament. … Goodluck Okonoboh was called for goaltending on consecutive UCLA possessions, giving the Bruins a 27-22 lead. … Both teams had a nine-point lead in the first half, the Runnin’ Rebels early and UCLA late on the way to a 41-35 halftime lead.

UCLA: The Bruins won the first four meetings with UNLV. … UCLA won the Maui Invitational in 2006 with a roster that featured five future NBA players, including Russell Westbrook. … Tony Parker was limited to 6 minutes in the first half after picking up his third personal foul. He had a double-double in the Bruins’ first three games, the first player to do that since Bill Walton, who is here as an analyst for ESPN, opened 1973-74 with nine straight. Parker, who got his fourth foul in the opening minute of the second half, finished with two points and three rebounds in 11 minutes.

UP NEXT

UNLV: Chaminade in the consolation round of the Maui Invitational on Tuesday. UCLA: No. 5 Kansas in the semifinals of the Maui Invitational on Tuesday.