You have to want it much more.
Actively playing on the street towards a group craving victory, UCLA coach Mick Cronin explained this week his Bruins would will need to match, if not exceed, the physical and emotional output of Oregon to prevail at Matthew Knight Arena.
The Ducks ended up on the fringes of most NCAA match projections, leaving them in have to have of a signature victory from a nationally rated team on countrywide television.
In the final minutes, just after UCLA wiped out a double-digit deficit with some inspired play Thursday night time, the Ducks wished it additional.
Oregon’s De’Vion Harmon rose for a rough three-pointer close to the finish of the shot clock. Eric Williams Jr. predicted an entry go for UCLA’s Cody Riley and stole it. Jacob Younger banked in a contested layup. And, in the final indignity, Williams threw down a vicious dunk off a Younger lob.
For No. 12 UCLA, it additional up to a 68-63 decline to the underdog Ducks on a evening the Bruins completed the recreation without the need of an wounded Johnny Juzang and a fouled-out Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Oregon learners stormed the court in celebration of a year sweep more than the Bruins (20-6 total, 12-5 Pac-12), whose lead about the Ducks (18-10, 10-7) for third put in the conference standings was slash to two games.
UCLA’s offense went chilly, significantly from long range, and its protection could not very replicate the performances it turned in through a recent a few-game homestand in which it had held just about every opponent under 60 points. The Bruins made just 4 of 24 a few-ideas (16.7%) and failed to maintain offensive rhythm except for just one extend in the next 50 percent.
The Bruins fell powering by 13 points six minutes into the second half, a deficit all the extra horrifying with Juzang, their major scorer, sidelined with a right ankle injury he experienced late in the to start with fifty percent.
Trying to get a spark, Cronin uncovered a large one in Peyton Watson. The freshman guard buried a jumper, converted a nifty move from Riley into a reverse layup and swatted a Will Richardson layup out of bounds.
When Jaquez set again his very own skip, the Bruins had finished a 12-1 operate to take a 54-53 direct. But the Ducks scored 6 consecutive points to regain handle and not even a Riley a few-issue play in which he followed a driving layup with a cost-free throw could aid his crew capture up.
Riley and level guard Tyger Campbell scored 12 factors just about every to lead the Bruins, who shot 36.8% to Oregon’s 43.8%.
Harmon scored 17 points to lead four Ducks in double figures.
Coming off his finest 3-video game extend of the season, UCLA guard Jaylen Clark remained in the starting lineup even upon the return of Campbell from the shoulder harm that forced him to pass up the Bruins’ sport against Arizona Point out on Monday. Clark immediately announced his presence with a putback dunk and a baseline floater for the Bruins’ first four factors.
Offense was tough to appear by for UCLA in the 1st half. The Bruins expended substantially of the game’s early likely taking part in from guiding soon after the Ducks acquired off to a scorching capturing begin against a primarily good defensive energy that bundled 7 steals in the very first 50 percent. The Bruins didn’t assistance them selves, Riley lacking two free throws and Campbell providing the Ducks 3 cost-free throws when he fouled Younger on a three-place try.
In an oddity, Juzang did not get a shot until finally there ended up 9 minutes remaining right before halftime, swishing a baseline jumper. He created two of 6 shots in a pair of minutes just before injuring his right ankle on a drive with 5:41 left in the initially fifty percent and limping off the court docket. Juzang analyzed his ankle with some movements in a hallway leading to the locker space as enjoy resumed.
Campbell briefly pulled the Bruins into a 27-27 tie with a jumper just before the Ducks rolled off 5 consecutive details, which include a engage in in which Campbell committed a turnover only to career back on protection and allow for Harmon to hit an open up jumper.
In a symbolic finish to the to start with half, Watson blocked a layup but the Bruins could not get off a shot right before time expired, Riley’s jumper released right after the clock experienced reached 00:00.
