The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
UCLA
Men's Basketball upsets No. 2 UCLA, 63-61
12.02.2007 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Damion James dunked with 8 seconds remaining to help No. 8 Texas upset second-ranked UCLA 63-61 after the Longhorns blew all of a 16-point, first-half lead Sunday in the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series.
James and D.J. Augustin finished with 19 points each, and the Longhorns (7-0) survived their closest game yet after winning their first six by at least 15 points. James also had 10 rebounds.UCLA's first loss of the season ended the Bruins' 25-game home winning streak. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute had 14 points, and Darren Collison added 12 in his first start for the Bruins (7-1).
Mbah a Moute missed a 3-pointer in front of UCLA's bench at the buzzer.
UCLA became the highest-ranked opponent Texas has beaten in a true road game in school history. Their previous best win came over No. 4 Memphis in January 2006.
With the score tied at 61, Mbah a Moute was fouled by Connor Atchley. The UCLA player's first attempt spun out of the basket, setting up the Longhorns' final possession.
Josh Shipp and freshman Kevin Love added 11 points each for the Bruins, who outscored Texas 36-26 in the second half.
UCLA opened the second half on a 16-3 run that produced its first lead since early in the game. Mbah a Moute had six points and Russell Westbrook five, including a basket off Love's outlet pass and a 3-pointer that beat the shot clock. Shipp followed with a 3-pointer to make it 41-40.
From there, the teams traded baskets, with neither leading by more than four points.
The scoring drought that plagued the Bruins in the first half hit Texas hard in the second. The Longhorns missed on five of their first six possessions as the Bruins played the kind of in-your-face defense they didn't early in the game.
Consecutive 3-pointers by Collison and Shipp tied it at 51.
A.J. Abrams scored inside and James, guarded by Love, hit a jumper for a 55-53 lead with 4:38 remaining.
The Bruins gained some breathing room with six unanswered points. Love made two free throws, Lorenzo Mata-Real tipped in Mbah a Moute's missed jumper and Mbah a Moute scored for a 59-55 lead.
But Augustin answered with a 3-pointer and after James and Justin Mason missed consecutive treys, Atchley hit one that tied it at 61 with 1:03 remaining.
The Bruins raced to a 12-7 lead before Texas outscored them 26-2, including 17 in a row. Augustin had six points and James and Mason added four each.
UCLA was 10-of-26 from the field in the first half, and got outrebounded 19-13. Love had three boards for the Bruins, who were forced to shoot outside by the Longhorns.
The Longhorns, who shot 53 percent in the half, cooled down and were outscored 11-7 to go into the break ahead 37-25.
Michael Roll made his season debut for UCLA after rupturing the plantar fascia in his left foot during preseason practice.
UCLA issued credentials to 39 scouts for the game, including ones representing 29 of the NBA's 30 teams.
