No. 4 UCLA tops Colorado, claims Pac-12 regular-season title

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored17 points and Tyger Campbell had 13 of his 14 points in the secondhalf as No. 4 UCLA hung on to beat Colorado 60-56 on Sunday.

Amari Bailey added 11 points for UCLA (25-4, 16-2 Pac-12), whichwon its eighth in a row to close out an undefeated February andclinch the regular-season conference title.

“This doesn’t change anything,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said.“Our goal along the way was going to have to be winning the Pac-12to try to be able to stay in the West (for the NCAA Tournament).So, we’ve got more games to win to be able to try to accomplishthat goal. Also, we have the longest home winning streak (23 games)in the country we take a lot of pride in. So we’re focused onArizona State.”

With the Pac-12 tournament and NCAA Tournament on the horizon,Jaquez agreed with his coach that now was not the time to rest ontheir regular-season title.

“That was one of the goals that we had in the beginning of theyear. And we accomplished it,” he said. “And now, we’ve got twomore goals that we want to accomplish, as well. And we’re justgoing to keep working hard.”

KJ Simpson had 14 points to lead Colorado (15-15, 7-12). Tristanda Silva, who left the game with just over five minutes remainingwith an apparent lower leg injury, and Luke O’Brien each scored 13points. Colorado nearly pulled off the upset against UCLA aftercoming off a lopsided loss to USC.

“There’s a different feeling today after the loss than afterThursday night’s loss, and something I talk to the players about,is that the reason that they’re down and disappointed tonight isbecause they fought their tails off,” Colorado coach Tad Boylesaid. “They competed their tails off, and they came up short.”

The Buffaloes fought back to take a 45-44 lead on da Silva’s3-pointer with 8:13 remaining, capping an 8-2 run by the Buffaloes.The game remained tight down the stretch with the score tied twicein the final 3:41.

Jaquez made one of two free throws with 2:17 left to put UCLA ontop by a point and Campbell added another basket for the Bruins.The Buffaloes got back within two points on a pair of free throwsby Lawson Lovering with seven seconds remaining. Amari Bailey wasfouled on the subsequent inbounds play and he made both free throwsto secure the victory over Colorado, which did not get a shot offin the final seconds.

Down by a basket at the break, UCLA scored the first sevenpoints of the second half to go in front 35-30. It was the Bruins’first lead since Jaquez scored on a dunk in the opening minute ofthe game. Tyger Campbell capped the burst with a 3-pointer, thefirst make from beyond the arc for the Bruins, who went 0 for 6 inthe first half.

UCLA missed 10 of its first 11 shots and fell behind 11-2 beforegradually cutting into the deficit, pulling to within 30-28 on alayup by Jaylen Clark just before the halftime buzzer. Coloradocouldn’t build on its early lead because of offensive problems ofits own and actually finished the first half shooting 37.9%, sometwo percent lower than UCLA in the same span.

3-POINT STREAK

The Bruins made one of their 14 3-point tries but that wasenough to extend a 23-year streak. Tyger Campbell’s 3-pointer earlyin the second half extended UCLA’s streak with at least one made3-pointer to 782 games. The Bruins have not gone without a3-pointer in a game since going 0 for 14 from beyond the arc in a78-63 loss at then No. 2 Stanford on Feb. 3, 2000.

BIG PICTURE

UCLA: The Bruins earned a gritty victory that will serve themwell as they turn their attention to post-season tournament. Theyovercame a slow start and spotty offensive play by maintainingtheir composure against an underdog, but determined, opponent,leaning on their defensive intensity to see the game through to awin.

Colorado: The Buffaloes put up a strong effort against ahigh-powered UCLA team, going toe to toe with their opponent untilthe final moments. They showed they can compete with the best inthe conference and, with a young squad, showed they have thepotential to improve in the near future.

UP NEXT

UCLA: Opens last regular season homestand Thursday againstArizona State ahead of Saturday’s finale against No. 7 Arizona. TheBruins are riding a 23-game home winning streak dating to lastseason, the longest active streak in the nation.

Colorado: Hosts Utah on Saturday in a regular-season finale.