UCLA @ Utah preview

UCLA at Utah

Last Meeting ( Feb 2, 2020 ) Utah 57, UCLA 73

Entering the second half of February, only one game currently separates the top six teams in the Pac-12 standings. And UCLA is right in the mix, sitting in a tie for fifth, as it tips off a key two-game road trip Thursday night with a date at Utah.

In coach Mick Cronin’s first season in Westwood, the Bruins got off to a slow Pac-12 start, winning only one of their first four contests. But UCLA has gone 7-2 since, and will bring a three-game win streak into Salt Lake City. “We just keep getting better in things like that,” UCLA redshirt-freshman guard Tyger Campbell said of the team’s communication in double-digit comeback wins over Washington State and Washington last week. “We’re rolling right now. Everybody is listening to everybody, and everyone’s voice matters right now.” Utah, meanwhile, has dropped four of six and is in a three-way tie for eighth place in the conference at 5-8.

TIME: 10:30 p.m. ET. TV: Fox Sports 1

ABOUT UCLA (15-11, 8-5 Pac-12): The Bruins must play three of their final five on the road, but they’ve been one of the conference’s better teams away from home so far, splitting their six road dates and winning 65-52 at No. 21 Arizona in their most recent road contest. Chris Smith, a 6-9 swingman, is the only UCLA player averaging double figures with 13.3 per game, and he’s stepped things up of late, averaging 19.3 points, seven rebounds and three assists over his last three contests. Forward Jalen Hill averages 9.5 points and team-best 7.0 rebounds while Campbell leads the way with 4.4 assists for the Bruins, who are tied with Colorado for the top rebounding margin in the conference at 6.15.

ABOUT UTAH (14-11, 5-8): The best news for the Runnin’ Utes is that they’ll be home for three of their final five games after posting a 10-1 mark in Salt Lake so far, compared to 1-8 (0-7 Pac-12) on the road. Coach Larry Krystowiak’s crew will need to pick up the pace offensively, though, as the Utes are averaging 63.6 points in conference play (11th worst in the Pac-12) and haven’t topped 64 in any of their last six outings. Forward Timmy Allen (17.6 points, team-leading 7.2 rebounds) and guards Rylan Jones (10.5 points) and Both Gach (10.1) are the leading scorers, but Allen is coming off a poor two-game trip to Oregon where he totaled 16 points on 5-of-16 shooting while losing nine turnovers.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. UCLA owns a narrow 7-6 series edge since Utah joined the Pac-12 in 2011, and the Bruins’ 73-57 win in the first meeting this season (Feb. 2) snapped the Utes’ three-game series win streak.

2. Campbell and fellow UCLA G Jaime Jacquez Jr. combined for 40 points and 11 assists in the first game this season while F Riley Battin paced Utah with 14 points.

3. Jones, a true freshman, scored a team-high 18 points in Sunday’s 80-62 loss at No. 16 Oregon and ranks fourth in the Pac-12 with his average of 4.7 assists per outing.

PREDICTION: Utah 67, UCLA 66