UCLA basketball: Arizona trounces lackluster Bruins, 85-74

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The drought in the desert continues.

UCLA arrived in Tucson with a four-game winning streak and departed with an 85-74 defeat by Arizona on Thursday night at the McKale Center, marking the Bruins’ third consecutive loss here.

Defense was optional much of the game for UCLA (13-7 overall, 5-3 Pacific 10 Conference), which repeatedly allowed uncontested layups and trailed by a season-high 18 points in the second half. Arizona forward Derrick Williams scored 22 points on seven-for-10 shooting, energizing the home crowd with an array of spectacular dunks.

UCLA sophomore forward Reeves Nelson equaled his career high with 24 points but could not carry his standout first half over into the final 20 minutes in his return from a sprained left ankle that had limited him in practice this week. Nelson scored seven points in the second half after getting 17 and making all seven of his shots in the first.

The Bruins made a concerted effort to feed freshman center Joshua Smith in the second half, but the big man had problems finishing around the basket. He scored 13 points but made only three of nine shots in his first game in a week after sitting out because of a head and neck injury.

Arizona (17-4, 6-2) pulled away early in the second half after Kyle Fogg was awarded four free throws -- and made them all -- on a foul by UCLA’s Lazeric Jones, who went scoreless after missing all seven of his shots.

The Bruins made only two of 16 three-pointers while Arizona made six of 10.

We’ll have more later at www.latimes.com/sports.

--Ben Bolch, reporting from Tucson