No. 24 UCLA Holds Off Washington, 64-61

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SEATTLE – Behind a career-high 32 points from sophomore Johnny Juzang, the No. 24-ranked UCLA men's basketball team recorded a 64-61 win over Washington in a Pac-12 game on Saturday at Alaska Airlines Arena.
 
Juzang topped his previous career-high of 27 points, scored against Stanford on Jan. 23 this season. That made his the first UCLA player to reach the 30-point plateau since Chris Smith had 30 points against Colorado on Jan. 30, 2020.
 
Juzang, who finished with 32 points, seven rebounds and three assists, had 21 of UCLA's 26 first-half points. That also marked the most points in one half by any Bruin this season.
 
Washington's Marcus Tsohonis scored 22 points off the bench, all in the second half, to lead the host Huskies (3-16, 2-12 Pac-12).
 
Jules Bernard had 14 points, while Jaime Jaquez Jr. totaled a team-leading 10 rebounds and had four assists.
 
UCLA (14-5, 10-3 Pac-12) improved to 9-1 this season in games decided by five points or fewer (includes overtime contests, regardless of final score margin).
 
Bernard hit the decisive shot for UCLA. With the Bruins ahead, 61-60, Bernard made a step-back jump shot with his foot on the 3-point line. That made the score 63-60 in UCLA's favor, with just under 12 seconds to play.
 
Tyger Campbell fouled Washington's Quade Green (14 points, four assists) with 4.8 seconds to play. Green made one of two free throws, before UCLA's Cody Riley was fouled and headed to the free throw line. Riley made the first attempt and missed the second attempt. Green corralled the rebound and with less than 3.6 second to play, he raced up the sideline and missed on a deep 3-point attempt at the buzzer.
 
The Bruins made 10 of 20 shots from 3-point territory on Saturday night.
 
UCLA opened the game on an 11-0 scoring run and held double-digit leads in both halves. The Huskies narrowed the margin each time, keeping the Bruins' lead in single digits.
 
In that opening 11-0 run, the Bruins knocked down a trio of 3-pointers, including two from Juzang.
 
Washington answered with an 11-0 scoring run, tying the contest at 11-11. The Bruins did not score from the 16:23 mark until the 7:08 mark in the first half. Juzang's mid-range jump shot with 7:08 remaining in the first half put UCLA ahead, 13-11. He scored two free throws and added another jump shot with 6:41 to play, increasing the Bruins' cushion to 17-11
 
UCLA led Washington at halftime, 26-20.
 
The Bruins mounted another substantial scoring run in the second half, scoring 10 consecutive points to make the score 44-34 at the 12:18 mark. Junior David Singleton sparked that rally with back-to-back 3-point makes, followed by a jumper from Juzang and a basket in the paint from Riley.
 
With 4:17 remaining in regulation, Juzang broke free from his defender and nailed a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer on the right side to give UCLA some separation at 57-52.
 
Washington answered with five consecutive points, setting up the late back-and-forth sequence.
 
UCLA has played five of its last six games away from Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. The Bruins will return home to face Arizona on Thursday, Feb. 18. Game time is 6 p.m. (PT). That contest will be televised on ESPN or ESPN2.
 
UCLA's game against Arizona State on Saturday, Feb. 20, will begin at 7 p.m. (PT). That game will be televised on ESPN2.