It took a lot of grit Thursday night.

Actually, UCLA coach Mick Cronin used another word to describe the Bruins’ 74-62 win against Arizona State.

“We’ve got great character, man. Tyger Campbell is such a tough winner,” Cronin said. “I had to put the ball in his hands. (ASU’s) defense, it’s hard to run anything. It’s hard to make a pass. Had to put it in his hands.”

UCLA (17-2 overall, 8-0 Pac-12) finished the game on a 16-2 run after trailing 60-58 with six minutes left. Jaylen Clark played 39 minutes, Campbell played 34 and David Singleton played 37 as the Bruins extended their winning streak to 14 games. Jaime Jaquez Jr. was just 4 for 12 from the field, his biggest shot of the night a 3-pointer with 3:35 remaining that extended the Bruins’ lead to 68-62 and keep the Sun Devils at bay.

“If you want to win conferences, you have to win tough games against good teams,” Cronin said.

Meanwhile, UCLA’s next opponent – No. 11 Arizona (16-3, 5-3) – was cruising to an 81-66 victory over USC the same night as the fifth-ranked Bruins were tipping off.

Does UCLA have anything left to give when it faces the Wildcats on Saturday afternoon with a chance to take another step toward a possible Pac-12 title?

We’ll find out when longtime conference rivals square off in the McKale Center at 11 a.m. (ABC, Ch. 7).

One key player who hasn’t given one minute to UCLA in several weeks is star freshman Amari Bailey, who has been out since Dec. 21 with a foot injury. Even with him out, the Bruins have kept their winning streak intact.

“We’ve been doing this without Amari,” Cronin said. “He looked good (Thursday), he’s close. He looked really good in our shootaround. We’ve been doing all this without a guy that’s going to play in the NBA.”

Cronin’s promising report of Bailey’s status creates some optimism that perhaps he’ll play Saturday.

“We’ll see how he feels (Saturday),” Cronin said.

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE FOR ANDREWS

Cronin praised Dylan Andrews after Thursday night’s game. The freshman point guard scored seven points in 12 minutes off the bench.

“All seven points were when we were losing,” Cronin said. “He made a big shot in the second half, a pull-up jump shot while I was trying to give Tyger (Campbell) some rest. There are guys that score off the bench when you’re winning. But Dylan’s baskets were huge. I’m talking about against a real team, in this environment, it gives you a lot of confidence for his future. We’re going to need that.”

Andrews, who played his high school basketball at Windward before transferring to Compass Prep in Arizona, has played in every game this season. He is averaging 10.8 minutes and 3.4 points and has committed just nine turnovers while dishing out 19 assists.

ETIENNE RETURNS TO TUCSON

UCLA sophomore Mac Etienne will return to the McKale Center for the first time since video caught the 6-foot-10 center appearing to spit at Arizona fans as he left the floor and into the tunnel after UCLA’s 76-66 loss on Feb. 3, 2022.

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The University of Arizona police cited Etienne with a charge of “assault-touch with intent to provoke”. Etienne later entered a not guilty plea on the misdemeanor charge during a telephone arraignment, according to the Arizona Daily Star.

“I’m not worried about that, unless (Arizona) is going to let (fans) come out of the stands and stuff like that, that’s the last thing I’m worried about,” Cronin said. “I’m worried about (Azuolas) Tubelis. He’s having an unbelievable year.”

No. 5 UCLA (17-2, 8-0 Pac-12) at No. 11 Arizona (16-3, 5-3)

When: Saturday, 11 a.m. PT

Where: McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz.

TV/radio: ABC (Ch. 7)/570 AM