UCLA Topped at Washington State, 81-73

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PULLMAN, Wash. – The No. 24-ranked UCLA men's basketball team dropped an 81-73 decision against Washington State on Thursday night in a Pac-12 contest at Beasley Coliseum.
 
Tyger Campbell had 17 points, connecting on 6 of 9 shots, and totaled five assists as the Bruins (13-5, 9-3 Pac-12) dropped consecutive games for the first time this season. Johnny Juzang had a team-leading 25 points and was a perfect 8-for-8 at the free throw line at Washington State (12-8, 5-8 Pac-12).
 
Juzang was particularly effective for the Bruins in the second half, scoring a team-best 18 points after halftime.
 
Coach Cronin, Postgame | Campbell and Juzang, Postgame

Washington State's Isaac Bonton scored a team-leading 26 points. Aljaz Kunc added 13 points for the Cougars and tied for the team lead with eight rebounds. Washington State finished the game having made 13 of 22 shots from 3-point range (59%).
 
UCLA trailed 5-0 at the start but leaned on a couple of lengthy scoring runs to get back in the game. Trailing by an 8-1 margin early, the Bruins responded by scoring 11 consecutive points. That gave UCLA a 12-8 lead. Juzang and Singleton both sank 3-pointers during that stretch.
 
The Bruins then reeled off a 6-0 scoring run late in the first half, with Campbell making a trio of attempts from the line before Jake Kyman converted from 3-point range. That brought the Bruins to within six points. UCLA headed to the locker room at the intermission trailing Washington State, 42-32.
 
Washington State maintained a double-digit lead until late in the contest, as Jaime Jaquez Jr. grabbed an offensive board and scored on the putback to make the score 76-67 at the 2:00 mark.
 
Less than a minute later, Jaquez Jr. picked up a steal on the press and quickly scored a layup to make it a seven-point game. That was as close as the Bruins could get to Washington State. UCLA outscored the Cougars by a 13-5 margin over the final four minutes of the game.
 
UCLA will conclude its Pacific Northwest road trip with a contest on Saturday at Washington. That game is scheduled for a 4:30 p.m. tip and can be viewed on the Pac-12 Networks.