Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 24 factors, and UCLA withstood a second-half push from Northwestern to get again to the Candy 16 with a 68-63 victory on Saturday evening.
The second-seeded Bruins (31-5) turned up the defensive depth late, holding the seventh-seeded Wildcats to 1-for-12 capturing throughout a key late-game stretch to seal the win.
The win was marred when David Singleton went down in excessive ache with a proper leg damage with 20.3 seconds remaining. He stayed down on the court docket for a couple of minutes earlier than getting helped off by teammates and going straight to the locker room. There was no speedy phrase on the extent of the damage.
UCLA made it to a 3rd straight Candy 16 for the primary time in 15 years. The Bruins will play the winner of Sunday’s recreation between Gonzaga and TCU within the West Area semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday evening.
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Dylan Andrews #2 of the UCLA Bruins reacts after a 3 level basket in the course of the second half towards the Northwestern Wildcats within the second spherical of the NCAA Males’s Basketball Match at Golden 1 Heart on March 18, 2023, in Sacramento, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Photos)
Amari Bailey added 14 factors, and Tyger Campbell scored 12 for UCLA.
Boo Buie scored 18 factors to steer Northwestern (22-12), Matthew Nicholson added 17 and Chase Audige scored all 16 of his factors within the second half.
The Wildcats ended their second journey to the event in the identical trend as the primary six years in the past, dropping within the second spherical.
They put up a very good combat towards the extra tournament-tested Bruins and had an opportunity till going chilly from the sphere late within the recreation.
The important thing second got here within the ultimate two minutes when Adem Bona blocked a drive by Audige, sending UCLA out in transition. David Singleton hit the 3-pointer that put the Bruins up 62-56 with 1:50 to play.
UCLA managed the sport early, contesting practically each shot and neutralizing Northwestern’s high-scoring backcourt of Buie and Audige.
UCLA gamers rejoice close to the top of a win in a first-round faculty basketball recreation towards UNC Asheville within the males’s NCAA Match in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, March 16, 2023. (AP Photograph/Randall Benton)
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Jaquez fueled a 12-2 run halfway by means of the half to construct up an 11-point lead, getting a steal and dunk, adopted by one other dunk in transition following a blocked shot by Kenneth Nwuba.
Buie lastly made his first basket of the sport with a drive simply earlier than the buzzer to chop UCLA’s result in 35-25 on the break.
Audige bought going within the second half with 14 factors within the first eight minutes after being held scoreless earlier than the break. The Wildcats tied it at 45 when Buie was credited with a basket on a goaltending name halfway by means of the half.
The sport remained shut from there till the top.
BIG PICTURE
Northwestern: The Wildcats adopted up their first event look with dropping information for the subsequent 5 seasons. Coach Chris Collins bought them again into second place within the Huge Ten within the common season and now seems to construct from there.
Amari Bailey #5 and Jaime Jaquez Jr. #24 of the UCLA Bruins react after a rating in the course of the second half towards the Northwestern Wildcats within the second spherical of the NCAA Males’s Basketball Match at Golden 1 Heart on March 18, 2023, in Sacramento, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Photos)
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UCLA: Bona returned after lacking the final two video games with a left shoulder damage. He aggravated the damage on a dunk within the second half and went to the bench instantly however did return to the sport and had the important thing block late. His presence will probably be key subsequent weekend.
UP NEXT
UCLA is 2 wins shy of its twentieth Last 4 look.