LOS ANGELES — On Thursday, Tyger Campbell wasn’t available. He broke team rules and had to sit.
The Bruins cruised to a 20-point win over Washington State.
On Saturday night, one hour before tip, the media was told Johnny Juzang was unlikely to play due to hip soreness. He didn’t play. Fifty minutes later, the UCLA spokesperson said Cody Riley was unavailable, too.
There seems to be a trend, which might make you wonder, who will they hold out on Monday against Arizona State?
I’ll tell you who it shouldn’t be: David Singleton or Jaylen Clark.
Singleton and Clark each had career-setting scoring nights to highlight UCLA’s 76-50 rout of Washington at Pauley Pavilion in game two of a six game stretch in 12 days.
Singleton scored 22 points on 7 of 10 shooting, including six 3-pointers, in 31 minutes. He also added four rebounds and three assists. Singleton’s previous scoring high was 15, one coming during last year’s Final Four run against Alabama.
“I knew there were going to be holes in the zone,” Singleton said. “I found the open spots. I’ve been prepared. Every night, I’ve been prepared. You never know when the team might need you. Tonight they needed me, so I just got the job done and contributed.”
Clark had a game-high 25 points on 12 of 16 shooting in 31 minutes, which breaks his previous career-high of 19 set in the win over Washington State Thursday.
“I’ve had an opportunity and I’m making the most of it,” Clark said of his new starting role and play lately.
UCLA (19-5, 11-4 Pac-12) started the game missing its first eight shots before connecting on six of its next nine. It took more than five minutes for the Bruins to score, but there was no panic since Washington (13-11, 8-6) had only scored six points in the same span.
Singleton ignited the offense in the first half, making four of his six 3-point attempts. Campbell later gave the Bruins its first double-digit lead of the game with a deep 3-pointer as the shot clock was winding down to make it 32-21.
Jaylen Clark rose up for a tip-jam that wow’d the crowd to make it 37-25 at halftime.
UCLA’s first five minutes of the second half was the opposite of its first five minutes in the first, making 7 of 9 shots, including two 3s from Singleton. With 15 minutes to play in the game, the rout was on as the Bruins led 54-26. A lead that eventually got to 63-33 with 10 minutes to play.
Clark had a break-away dunk that he fell awkwardly on, hitting his head on the hardwood. But he popped right back up. It was a scary moment considering Clark’s history with head injuries this season.
“I’ve been begging him to protect himself on the fast break,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said. “I tell him to forget the dunks, just lay it in so you can land safely on your feet, not your head. But instincts kick in.”
Clark on Cronin’s advice: “I’m an aggressive player,” he said with a chuckle.
It’s the second straight blowout win for UCLA, which has helped to alleviate any player from logging heavy minutes. In Thursday night’s win, Clark was the only Bruin to log over 30 minutes (34). Saturday night, only Clark and Singleton broke the 30 minute mark.
Riley sat out for load management and Juzang’s hip soreness came from falling off his scooter getting around the UCLA campus.
“Since Chris Smith went down, it’s like someone has a voodoo doll poking at my team. It’s crazy. It’s my 19th year as a head coach, I want 17 years with one ACL (injury),” Cronin said. “I have to worry about guys getting from their dorm to Mo Ostin (practice facility) right now. I’m scared to pick up my phone every morning.”
UCLA is back in Pauley Pavilion Monday night to host Arizona State at 6 p.m. on FS1.