Ucla, Razorbacks Provide Varied Styles

Ten-time winner UCLA plays for the NCAA basketball championship on Monday night against a tough, tenacious Arkansas team that is determined to hold onto the title it has juggled perilously throughout the tournament.

UCLA shook off Oklahoma State 74-61 and the Razorbacks hung on for a 75-68 victory over North Carolina in Saturday’s semifinals.

Both winners had their hands full. UCLA used a 12-0 run in the last 2 minutes, 44 seconds to put away Oklahoma State. Arkansas nearly blew a 10-point lead before finishing off North Carolina.

For UCLA, it was an 18th straight victory, the nation’s longest winning streak, and clinched the Bruins’ first trip to the championship game since 1980, when they lost to Louisville.

Arkansas returns for a chance at a second straight title, something only Duke in 1991-92 has accomplished since the UCLA dynasty of 10 championships in 12 years ended with the retirement of coach John Wooden in 1975.

It will be a match of different styles. UCLA likes to run and plays a more traditional offense than Arkansas, which nailed North Carolina with 12 3-pointers, the second most in Final Four history.

“We’re not going to change our game plan,” said Arkansas’ Corey Beck, who had 10 assists against UNC. “Let them change their’s.”