/ Modified aug 13, 2024 5:28 p.m.

Arizona, UCLA agree to continue basketball rivalry with 3 games over next 4 years

Arizona and UCLA were conference rivals for years in the Pac-12, but the recent exodus from the conference has split them apart.

University of Arizona basketball game athletics Fans in UA's McKale Center cheer through a break in the action during a basketball game against Washington State.
AC Swedbergh / AZPM

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona and UCLA will continue their basketball rivalry with three games over the next four years, starting with a Dec. 14 matchup in downtown Phoenix.

The teams also agreed to meet in 2025 at the Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas and in 2027 in Los Angeles.

Arizona and UCLA were conference rivals for years in the Pac-12, but the recent exodus from the conference has split them apart. Arizona is now in the Big 12 and UCLA is a part of the Big Ten.

The teams have played 113 times, with the Bruins holding a 63-50 advantage.

"For decades, Arizona-UCLA games have meant so much to our players, coaches, and fans across the country," Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said in a statement. "Icons in the game of basketball have made this rivalry into one of the best in college basketball, and we look forward to adding the next chapters in the years to come."

Said UCLA coach Mick Cronin: "It's a win-win situation for both UCLA and Arizona, as we want to preserve what has turned into a fantastic basketball rivalry out West. These are two schools with strong basketball traditions and passionate fan bases, and it's important for us to find ways to continue playing each other."

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona