Jaime Jaquez Jr. leads No. 4 UCLA to 78-71 win over Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored17 of his 23 points in the second half and Tyger Campbell added 18to lift No. 4 UCLA to a 78-71 win over Utah on Thursday night.

“Jaime is a big-time player. He’s an All-American and a guythat’s going to play in the NBA for 10-12 years, so it’s not asurprise,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said.

Jaquez, who was UCLA’s only effective offensive player in thesecond half, made a 3-pointer with 1:03 remaining to seal the winjust moments after Campbell made a 3 from the corner.

“I prepare myself to be in these situations,” Jaquez said. “Myguys have faith in me that I’m going to make the right play everytime down the stretch.”

UCLA (24-4, 15-2 Pac-12) has won seven in a row despite givingup more than 70 points for just the fourth time this season.

“The key is number one, taking care of the ball, and two,relying on your defense to get things done, not your offense,”Campbell said.

Mike Saunders Jr. came off the bench to score a career-high 25points for Utah (17-12, 10-8 Pac-12), which has lost three in arow.

“Honestly, it felt amazing and it was crazy because I envisionedit,” Saunders said. “I was just waiting for an opportunity. I feellike my teammates believe in me.”

The Utes played without their starting backcourt of RollieWorster and Gabe Madsen, who are both injured. Utah finally startedmaking 3-pointers in the second half and cut the Bruins lead to62-59 after Wilguens Exacte and Saunders hit from beyond thearc.

But Jaquez came up with baskets when the Bruins needed themmost.

“The game was never in jeopardy,” Cronin said, despite Utah’slate runs. “When you have Jaime and Tyger, it’s easy to beconfident.”

Utah held the Bruins without a field goal for more than sixminutes in the middle of the second half, highlighted by a coupleof thunderous blocks from Branden Carlson and Keba Keita.

“It was a heck of an effort. We’re not into moral victories butreally, really proud of the way they played today,” Utah coachCraig Smith said.

Saunders, who only had three points in all of conference playcoming into the game, brought a new element of speed to the Utesbut made some mistakes characteristic of seldom-used players.

“He’s going to learn. They were some things tonight he’s got todo better, but he really sparked us on the offensive end,” Smithsaid.

UCLA’s 15-2 mark through 17 Pac-12 games marks the program’sbest conference start since the 2007-08 Final Four team with KevinLove and Russell Westbrook.

Jaquez thinks this team can go even further.

“National championship. That’s what we got in mind,” Jacquezsaid.

Tyger Campbell scored 10 of his points in the first half andhelped manufacture open shots for his teammates while the Bruinsheld the Utes to 33 percent and 0-for-10 from 3-point range to takea 43-31 lead at halftime.

BIG PICTURE

UCLA: The Bruins took what the Utes gave them, so theyconsistently scored from the mid-range. Even with their scoringdrought, the Bruins took care of the ball with only six turnovers,marking the 27th of 28 games this season they have less giveawaysthan their opponent.

Utah: The Utes made it difficult at times for the Bruins with adetermined effort on the boards and a lot of hustle, but the Utescouldn’t shoot. Without their guards, Saunders was a pleasantsurprise, but it didn’t matter because UCLA shot so well early andheld Carlson in check.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

UCLA has been in the Top 10 for the last month and furtherupward mobility will probably depend on one of the top three losingthis weekend.

UP NEXT

UCLA: At Colorado on Sunday.

Utah: Hosts Southern Cal on Saturday.