This is the game we’ve all been waiting all season for: the Pac-12 Tournament Final. Tonight’s game features the 2nd-seeded UCLA Bruins against the top-seeded Arizona Wildcats.
After receiving the top seed in the tournament due to an 18-2 regular season conference record, the Wildcats played Stanford in the quarterfinals on Thursday and the Cardinal almost knocked them off. With 3:25 left in the game, James O’Keefe put the Cardinal on top, 75-74, with a pair of free throws. Just eight seconds later, a dunk by Bennedict Mathurin put the Wildcats up for good. Arizona went on to survive 84-80 in a game that was closer than it probably should have been.
Despite Tad Boyle’s claims of media bias against his Buffaloes, last night’s game between Colorado and Arizona wasn’t nearly as close as the Wildcats’ game against Stanford. The Buffs’ last lead of the game came with almost ten minutes left in the first half when they led by a score of 24-22. To the Buffs’ credit, they were able to cut Arizona’s lead to just a point three different times in the second half, but they just couldn’t ever take a lead in the second half. As a result, the Wildcats cruised to an 82-72 final to advance to tonight’s game against the Bruins.
Meanwhile, in the second semifinal, UCLA took the lead for good with about 13 minutes left in the first half as they manhandled Southern Cal, 69-59. The Bruins relied primarily on the starters last night as those five guys accounted for 62 of their 69 points. Only Peyton Watson, who added five points, and Cody Riley, who contributed a bucket, scored off the bench. Also, four of the five starters for UCLA scored in double figures.
Not surprisingly, Jaime Jaquez, Jr. led UCLA with 19 points. Jules Bernard and Tyger Campbell added 15 and 14 points, respectively. And, Johnny Juzang showed some signs of being healthy by scoring ten.
The outlook for tonight’s game is anybody’s guess. Each team won at home. Arizona has won their last five games and 14 of their last 15 games since they met in Westwood. Of course, UCLA has won their last five games as well and 9 of their last 11 since the Bruins were swept on their Arizona road trip. Tonight’s game should be an epic game between these two programs.
Listen to the Game With TMB!
TuneIn.com now has UCLA’s games listed as “premium” content. So, rather than using TuneIn, you can just listen through the official website like we have done with the small sports for a long time in order to listen to Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray call tonight’s game. Tonight’s game is on Fox. As a result, Joe Davis and Casey Jacobsen have the call again tonight. So, if you don’t want listen to them on TV again and want to listen to Lewin and Murray, just be sure to right-click on it so that you can open up another tab and have it going while you chat in the comments below. Listen to today’s game online.
In the meantime, here’s how to watch tonight’s game:
This is your Pac-12 Tournament Finals game thread.
2022 Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Tournament Finals
Teams: 2-seed UCLA Bruins (25-6) vs. 1-seed Arizona Wildcats (30-3)
Thanks again for supporting The Mighty Bruin. Your paid subscriptions make this site possible. Questions, comments, story ideas, angry missives and more can be sent to to @TheMightyBruin on Twitter.
What happened to ANY inside game. Trying win from distance is a flawed strategy. Not a good enough shooting % to rely on that. Really disappointed in the offensive sets. Had it in first half and 80% of shots in 2nd are from 20’+. LED to 20-5 run. Poor execution
Pac-12 Tournament Final — UCLA Bruins vs. Arizona Wildcats: How To Watch, Preview and Game Thread
U !
L
Good Myles starting again. Need that D
Juze!
Tygrr forced it!
Watson In early
This is a tough team to defend.
C'mon, Jaime!
We seem tight.
Grrr!
Watson causing Arizona problems with his defense
Good toughness so far, looking good
We’re guarding Koloko really well but need to get in front of their guards! Allowing too many layups
Bruins overmatched physically but playing hard!
Juze!
Juze looks back to form
Cody, go figure!
How tall is Ballo? Look like AZ is playing 2 7-footers at once
This is the most agitated I've seen us recently.
Julez!
Jacquez is passing up open shots for some reason
We need Jaime to get going. Why isn’t he posting up? AZ too big?
Johnny looks fully back. Attacking and everything. Night and day from yesterday
Johnson needs to dunk it!
Grrrr!
Jaime sinks them both!
Let's go Bruuins!
Juze!
Johnny!
Yes!!
Unbelievable first half. We are totally outsized and out atheticised (fake word) and leading. Heart.
Juzang did that after playing the whole first half. Great effort
We will see more Nwuba tonight
Welps Myles picked up his 3rd foul like 10 seconds into the 2nd half.
Only consolation is AZ has a player with 4 fouls now
Definitely a flagrant
SPTRs taking forever. Pretty obvious.
Arizona whines...a lot!
Neuba please
Johnson contesting that dunk was costly.
Julez, again!
What happened to ANY inside game. Trying win from distance is a flawed strategy. Not a good enough shooting % to rely on that. Really disappointed in the offensive sets. Had it in first half and 80% of shots in 2nd are from 20’+. LED to 20-5 run. Poor execution
Everything is going against us now. That’s when we shine!
Let's go Bruins!
Mick did NOT like that shot
Sheet!
Myles away!
Sheet, we ain't got this one.
Foul trouble has softened our defense. Giving up easy baskets.
AZ is really good and we are hanging with them. Need a few stops now!
That Jaime turnaround is automatic