#3 UCLA Cruises Past Oregon State, 81-65
#3 UCLA Cruises Past Oregon State, 81-65
The Bruins almost took this one buzzer to buzzer.
When Johnny Juzang scored the first basket by either team just 21 seconds into the game, it was the start of a good night for the UCLA Bruins. It was also the start of a good night for Juzang who led all scorers with 24 points.
While the Beavers would actually tie it four times and even take the lead twice in the first half, this game was never really in doubt.
In fact, for the entire game, the Bruins trailed for a grand total of just 43 seconds.
That said, they didn’t really overpower Oregon State in the first half. They just gradually increased their lead as the first half progressed. Finally, with just under three minutes to go in the half, Tyger Campbell drove into the paint for a layup that put UCLA ahead 40-30.
While OSU scored the next three points to cut the Bruins’ lead to seven points, UCLA pushed in back to ten with 31 seconds left.
If there was a dark point of the night, it came with time running out. That’s because for the second consecutive game, the Bruins allowed their opponent to score as time expired to end the half. UCLA went into the locker room up by eight, 43-35.
Unlike Thursday, the Bruins weren’t about to give the game away in the second half, even if that wasn’t immediately apparent.
Oregon State scored the first points of the second half as well to cut UCLA’s lead to six in the first minute. Juzang responded to a turnaround jumper by Jarod Lucas with one of his own and UCLA’s smallest lead of the second half lasted just 21 seconds.
The Bruins just continued to play hard and they managed to stretch their lead to 14 points in just 2 minutes and 45 seconds. Again, it was Juzang leading UCLA and giving them a 53-39 lead on a three-pointer.
From that point, Oregon State would get no closer than nine as they just lacked the offensive firepower to compete with the Bruins. UCLA, on the other hand, just kept putting up points and they kept working to stretch their lead until they had an 18-point lead, their biggest of the game, with just 21 seconds left.
The Beavers managed to score the final bucket but they were clearly outmatched and UCLA had cruised to an 81-65 win.
In addition to Juzang, three other Bruins finished in double figures. Jules Bernard was second with 16 points while Campbell added 13. Jaylen Clark put up 11 while filling in for Jaime Jaquez, Jr.
UCLA heads to Utah next for a game on Thursday night at 8pm PT.
Go Bruins!!!
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Hope Jacquez and Singleton are ok. It’s great to win without them but we’ll need both of them for the Utah/Co trip for sure
UCLA offensively played great. Juzang was able to take over and should get the ball in his hands every single possession. They did this a lot and it works well. Teams will double juzang and he’s good at finding the open player.
Jules also shot a lot less poor shots. Poor ones being the fade away three’s and off balance jumpers. He drove for a lot of layups which is good considering his jump shot is ugly right now.
Clark also showed that he can score when he’s needed to, they just need to ask it of him more often.
Peyton needs to stop dribbling as he’s careless with the ball and still out of control. He plays ok on defense, but he often gets beat and relies on his length to recover and block a shot. I’d prefer he works on staying in front of his man.
UCLA went for good stretches of minimal defense in the first half. They tightened up significantly in the second but still had a few lulls defensively.
UCLA did play with intensity though. Clark and Watson bring energy and juzang is able to be the go to offensive player when they’re out there which is good. Juzang is a shooter and if there are too many other threats, he can get lost. This game he was clearly the go to guy and he didn’t disappoint… go bruins