UCLA Tops Arizona on the Road, 81-76

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TUCSON, Ariz. – Tyger Campbell matched a career high with 22 points to lead the UCLA men's basketball team past Arizona, 81-76, in a Pac-12 game at the McKale Center on Saturday night.
 
UCLA (9-2, 5-0 Pac-12) won its fourth consecutive game. The Bruins received a career-best 16 points from Johnny Juzang and 13 points from Jaime Jaquez Jr.
 
The victory helped UCLA maintain sole possession of first place in the Pac-12 as the Bruins matched their best start in conference play since 2012-13. The Bruins also logged their fourth consecutive win at Arizona (2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021), marking a first for the program since having won five in a row at the McKale Center from 1980 through 1984.
 
Campbell, who was celebrating his birthday, scored his 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting including a perfect 7-for-7 effort from the free throw line. Juzang finished the game having made 5 of 10 shots and 3 of 4 attempts from 3-point range.
 
"He's just going to keep getting better as the season goes on," said Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach, about Juzang. "I thought we were able to get him some shots today. That was important. We were able to get him in space, he's showing you he's more than a 3-point shooter. When he can get some lay-ups, some free throws, pull-ups, you can see the ball go in the basket. It's a lot easier. I just think you're going to knock down more threes."

Coach Cronin's Postgame Remarks | UCLA's Student-Athletes, Postgame
 
In a back-and-forth first half, Campbell continued to assert himself. The sophomore point guard from Cedar Rapids, Iowa scored 12 consecutive points late in the first half for UCLA. He scored a team-leading 14 points before the intermission. During his hot streak, Campbell helped to spark a 12-0 UCLA scoring run that erased a five-point deficit and put the Bruins in the lead.
 
Jaquez Jr. made 4 of 9 shots for UCLA and grabbed a team-leading nine rebounds in the victory.
 
After both teams had battled to a 41-41 tie in the first half, the contest remained close early in the second half. UCLA received back-to-back 3-pointers from David Singleton and Jaquez Jr. to establish some separation, giving the Bruins a 59-54 edge at the 12:03 mark.
 
Juzang followed with a 3-point basket with 10:34 remaining to make the score 62-54 in UCLA's favor. That marked the Bruins' largest advantage of the night.
 
While the Bruins led for the final 13:52 of the contest, Arizona continued to remain within striking distance until the final moments. The host Wildcats got as close as 79-76 with six seconds to play in regulation.
 
Arizona's James Akinjo finished the a team-leading 25 points and a game-high eight assists. Azuolas Tubelis had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Wildcats.
 
The Bruins will return to Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom next week, hosting Pac-12 rivals Washington State on Thursday (Jan. 14) and Washington on Saturday (Jan. 16). Both contests are slated to begin at 2 p.m. (PT).
 
UCLA's matchup against Washington State will be televised by FS1. The Bruins' game next Saturday against Washington will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.