Field Level Media
Jan 19, 2020
A 14-0 run spanning more than 10 minutes of the second half carried UCLA to a 50-40 win in a defensive struggle against Cal, Sunday in Los Angeles.
Chris Smith led UCLA (9-9, 2-3 Pac-12) with 17 points, while Jalen Hill and Jaime Jaquez Jr. each scored 11 points on a night where offense came at a premium -- particularly for Cal.
The Golden Bears (8-10, 2-3) missed 15 consecutive field-goal attempts during the decisive stretch, a streak that ended with 5:55 remaining on a Matt Bradley jump shot. Bradley led Cal with 17 points, but shot just 2-of-9 from behind the 3-point line. Cal shot 30.4 percent as a team.
Dimitrios Klonaras was the only other Golden Bear to connect from long range. He went 1-for-1.
UCLA did not shoot much more effectively from beyond the arc -- or from the field in general, for that matter. The Bruins went 4 of 16 from 3-point range and 19 of 46 (41.3 percent) from the floor overall.
However, UCLA converted 15 Cal turnovers into 16 points to help make the difference. So, too, did the Bruins' ability to avoid putting Cal at the free-throw line. The Golden Bears did not attempt a foul shot until 4:25 remained and took only four total.
The 40 points marked the Golden Bears' lowest single-game point total since the NCAA introduced the 3-point line in the 1986-87. Their previous low came in a 42-41 loss to Arizona State in March 2007.
UCLA forced 10 of the Golden Bears' 15 turnovers via steals. Hill and Smith set the defensive pace with four and three takeaways, respectively.
Smith also matched Cal's Paris Austin with a game-high eight rebounds. Cal edged UCLA on the glass overall, 35-33.
UCLA scored 13 of its 19 made field goals off assists, with Tyger Campbell's eight leading the way. Hill dished three assists.
--Field Level Media