LOS ANGELES - UCLA wanted payback for last year’s humiliating loss to Kentucky.
Mission accomplished.
Sophomore center Thomas Welsh scored 21 points on 8-for-11 shooting, grabbed 11 rebounds and added two blocked shots as the Bruins led the top-ranked Wildcats nearly wire-to-wire on their way to an 87-77 win Thursday night at Pauley Pavilion.
Bryce Alford and Isaac Hamilton had 15 points apiece as all five UCLA starters scored in double figures, as Coach Steve Alford used just seven players on a night Kentucky forward Marcus Lee left the game early with a head injury and several other Wildcats were hampered by foul trouble.