UCLA’s rally falls short against Alabama, 56-50

Ricky Tarrant scored a season-high 24 points to lead Alabama to a 56-50 victory over UCLA on Sunday night for the Bruins’ third straight loss.

Levi Randolph made five of six free throws in the final 33 seconds to help the Crimson Tide (9-3) seal its third win in a row.

Bryce Alford led the Bruins (8-5) with 16 points but missed two three-pointers over the final 38 seconds.

The Tide had a 12-point halftime lead wiped out in the final minutes before clinching the win at the line.

Randolph finished with 15 points while both teams struggled from the field.

Isaac Hamilton scored 15 and helped spark UCLA’s second-half comeback with eight straight points to end a 10-0 opening run.

The Bruins had another poor first half, trailing 29-17 after managing just seven points before halftime in getting routed by No. 1 Kentucky eight days earlier.

The Bruins shot 16 of 52 (30.8%). Alabama wasn’t much better, going 17 of 51 (33.3%).

The Bruins, who had trailed since the opening two minutes, finally caught up at 48-48 on Hamilton’s 3-pointer with 2:17 left. Alford drove toward the basket and fired a pass to him in the right corner.

Randolph answered with a jumper and then the teams swapped turnovers.

Hamilton tied it again with a put-back for UCLA and Tarrant hit 1 of 2 free throws with 50 seconds left for a 51-50 edge.

Alford missed a three-pointer from the top of the key and Randolph made two free throws with 33 seconds left to make it 53-50.

Alford tried another contested three-pointer from nearly the same spot and the Bruins were forced to send Randolph back to the line.

UCLA committed 18 turnovers, a number of them unforced.