UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) reacts with center Myles Johnson (15) and Kenneth Nwuba, center, after a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against St. Mary’s, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Portland, Ore. UCLA won 72-56. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24) sits on the bench with ice on his ankle after leaving the court with an injury during the second half of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against St. Mary’s, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) puts up a shot over the defense of St. Mary’s forward Kyle Bowen (14) during the second half of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against UCLA, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Portland, Ore. UCLA won 72-56. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
St. Mary’s guard Logan Johnson (0) shoots against UCLA forward Cody Riley, left, during the first half of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
St. Mary’s forward Matthias Tass goes down in front of UCLA cheerleaders during the first half of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against UCLA, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
St. Mary’s center Mitchell Saxen, left, drives around UCLA guard Jules Bernard, right, during the first half of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
St. Mary’s center Mitchell Saxen (10) battles for a rebound with UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., center, and guard Johnny Juzang, right, during the first half of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
UCLA guard guard Johnny Juzang (3) shoots above St. Mary’s guard Tommy Kuhse (12) during the first half of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
St. Mary’s head coach Randy Bennett gestures from the sideline during the first half of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against UCLA, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) celebrates with teammates at the end of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against St. Mary’s, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Portland, Ore. UCLA won 72-56. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
UCLA head coach Mick Cronin calls from the sideline during the first half of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against St. Mary’s, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
St. Mary’s center Mitchell Saxen (10) battles for a rebound with UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., center, and guard Johnny Juzang, right, during the first half of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. reaches to try and keep the ball in-bounds during the first half of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against St. Mary’s, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
St. Mary’s forward Dan Fotu, left, center Mitchell Saxen (10), and guard Alex Ducas (44) sit on the bench late in the second half of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against UCLA, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Portland, Ore. UCLA won 72-56. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
St. Mary’s guard Logan Johnson (0) drives to the basket as UCLA guard Jules Bernard (1) and forward Cody Riley, third from left, defend during the second half of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Portland, Ore. UCLA won 72-56. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24) passes around the defense of St. Mary’s’ Kyle Bowen (14) and Logan Johnson (0) during the second half of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Portland, Ore. UCLA won 72-56. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
UCLA forward Cody Riley (2) leaps to pass agianst St. Mary’s forward Dan Fotu (42) during the second half of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Portland, Ore. UCLA won 72-56. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
St. Mary’s forward Matthias Tass (11) puts up a shot as UCLA guard Peyton Watson (23) defends during the second half of a second-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Saturday, March 19, 2022, in Portland, Ore. UCLA won 72-56. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)
PORTLAND, Ore. — On Thursday, UCLA looked tight, maybe even nervous, as they escaped first-round embarrassment and beat Akron.
The Bruins that came to play Saturday were nothing of the sort.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. showed killer instinct. No Saint Mary’s guard could stay in front of Tyger Campbell. And Johnny Juzang showed flashes of the hot-shooting the country fell in love with last spring. Cody Riley even hit a 3-pointer.
The Bruins on the bench were literally dancing, and they’ll keep dancing in March.
Fourth-seeded UCLA shot 56% en route to a comfortable 72-56 NCAA Tournament second-round win over fifth-seeded Saint Mary’s at the Moda Center Saturday evening. The win advances the Bruins to the Sweet Sixteen in Philadelphia, Penn. Friday against No. 8 North Carolina, which knocked off No. 1 Baylor in overtime.
The Bruins (27-7) had a 13-0 run midway through the first half after trailing 20-13 that earned them a lead they’d never relinquish for the rest of the game. A large part of that run was because of Jaquez, who scored the Bruins’ first six points, but left the game at the 6:58-mark in the second half due to injury and did not return.
Jaquez is officially listed as “day-to-day” with a right ankle sprain, according to UCLA’s spokesperson.
“We got until Friday to play. And trust me, if he can walk, he’ll play. I know him,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said, alluding to Jaquez’ toughness.
Tyger Campbell led UCLA with 16 points, including a perfect 8 for 8 from the free throw line. Johnny Juzang scored 12 of his 14 in the second half and had eight rounds. Jules Bernard added 14 points.
Jaquez scored all of his 15 points in the first half. Saint Mary’s never sent a double team, and Jaquez continued to score.
“I was wondering what Randy (Bennett) was going to do,” Cronin said. “Because they don’t even trap (Gonzaga’s) Drew Timme sometimes. I was hoping they would give (Jaquez) one-on-one coverage. I liked our chances.”
UCLA’s 13-0 run was highlighted by the offense, but anchored by the defense. The Gaels (26-8) started the game 6 of 9 from the field, but finished the half 4 of 17 as the Bruins took a 36-29 lead into halftime.
Saint Mary’s coverage did change in the second half, which freed up Juzang, who made three straight baskets to give UCLA it’s first 10-point lead of the game at 54-44. Juzang shot 6 of 11 from the field Saturday, a significant difference from his 3 of 11 against Akron Thursday night.
“I just got great looks,” Juzang said. “The sets that we were running for those plays, and then my teammates finding me, and the big men just getting me so wide open. They were screening and I was pretty wide open.”
Campbell, who drew five fouls in the game, earned himself two free throws with four minutes to play. His two makes ballooned the Bruins’ lead to 64-49. The trip to the Sweet Sixteen began to set in. Riley heaved a late-shot clock 3-pointer towards the rim that gave UCLA a 69-51 lead with two to pay. That set the trip to the next round in stone.
Tyger Campbell showing off the guard work. UCLA on an 11-0 run and now leads Saint Mary’s 28-22 with 3:25 left in the half. pic.twitter.com/gxZN1jwW9o
UCLA’s initial date with North Carolina was set for Dec. 18 in Las Vegas, Nev., but it was called off due to COVID-19 within the Bruins’ program.
“Well, we were supposed to play them, but we all got COVID in December,” Cronin said. “We were supposed to play in Vegas, so now we’re going to play in Philly with the season on the line.”
