LAS VEGAS — Jordan Adams scored 15 points and UCLA ran away from Oregon with a big second-half run for an 82-63 rout over the Ducks in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 tournament on Thursday night.
UCLA (24-8) had a superb night shooting and clamped down on Oregon in the second half to turn what had been a close game into a runaway after halftime.
The Bruins opened the second half with a huge run and kept dropping shots, hitting 57 percent from the floor to advance to Friday’s semifinals against Stanford, which beat Arizona State.
Travis Wear and Zach LaVine added 14 points each for UCLA.
The Ducks (23-9) matched the Bruins in the first half, but had no answer when they started to pull away, ending an eight-game winning streak.
Joseph Young was the only Oregon player to have any sustained success against UCLA, scoring 29 points.
The Ducks shouldn’t have to worry too much; they should be a lock for the NCAA tournament when Selection Sunday rolls around.
The opening Pac-12 quarterfinal was a blowout, the second one a defensive struggle.
The third one figured to be a blur with two of the conferences’ best offensive and most athletic teams hooking up.
The Ducks were arguably the conference’s best team at the end of the regular season, overcoming a shaky stretch by winning their final seven games. Oregon kept it going in the opening round of the Pac-12 tournament, blowing past rival Oregon State with a big second-half run for an 88-74 victory.
UCLA stumbled a bit down the stretch, losing three of its final five games, including a not-so-great one to struggling Washington State in its finale. The Bruins played well enough before that to earn the Pac-12’s No. 2 seed and a bye for the first round.
The game came as advertised, the teams zipping back and forth like it was a relay race, trading dunks, 3-pointers and athletic moves to the basket.
UCLA made 15 of 27 shots, Oregon 13 of 24, neither team able to get much separation.
Kyle Anderson had the highlight of the half, launching himself over Oregon’s Richard Amardi for a dunk that had the crowd still buzzing 30 seconds later and left Mardi dazed on the floor.
Other Pac-12 games
COLORADO 59, CALIFORNIA 56 — Askia Booker scored 17 points, Xavier Talton added 13 and Colorado held off California.
Colorado (23-10) led by as much as 11 before the Bears made a late run to make it close.
The Buffaloes went ahead 58-54 when Booker hit two free throws with 12.1 seconds left, but Eli Stalzer only hit 1 of 2 free throws after Justin Cobbs scored on a layup. Cal raced down the floor to get off a potential tying 3-pointer, but Cobbs’ shot came up short.
Josh Scott scored 11 points for the Buffaloes, who will face No. 4 Arizona in the semifinals.
ARIZONA 71, UTAH 39 — Nick Johnson scored 14 points, T.J. McConnell added 13 and No. 4 Arizona overwhelmed Utah defensively in a rout to match the most lopsided game in Pac-12 tournament history.
After playing two close games against Utah during the regular season, top-seeded Arizona (29-3) opened the tournament with a spirit-crushing defensive performance.
Arizona ran through the record book against Utah (21-11), setting marks for fewest points allowed, fewest field goals (12) and lowest shooting percentage (25).
STANFORD 79, ARIZONA STATE 58 — Chasson Randle scored 21 points and Stanford jumped on third-seeded Arizona State early.
Stanford (21-11) built any early 10-point lead, answered when Arizona State tried to make a run and pulled away down the stretch to give its NCAA tournament hopes a huge boost.
Dwight Powell scored 15, Josh Huestis added 12 and the Cardinal shot 54 percent to earn a spot in today’s semifinals against second-seeded UCLA.
