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UCLA men’s basketball closes out nonconference play with win over UC Davis

Junior guard Jaylen Clark drives into the paint. Clark led No. 13 UCLA men’s basketball with 18 points in its win over UC Davis on Wednesday. (Jack Stenzel/Daily Bruin)

Men’s basketball


UC Davis54
No. 13 UCLA81

By Gavin Carlson

Dec. 21, 2022 4:31 p.m.

Following a pair of ranked wins on the East Coast last week, the Bruins got off to a slow start offensively Wednesday afternoon.

But after Jaylen Clark helped the blue and gold weather the storm in the first half, the entire team caught fire to close out nonconference play with a win.

Behind 13 first-half points from the junior guard, No. 13 UCLA men’s basketball (11-2, 2-0 Pac-12) took a 12-point lead into halftime before pulling away from UC Davis (7-5) for an 81-54 win at Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins shot just 8-of-24 outside of Clark in the first half but made their first seven shots of the second half to stretch their lead on the way to their 16th straight win at home and eighth straight win overall.

The Bruins were held scoreless through their first seven possessions and fell behind 11-7 after the opening six minutes, shooting 2-of-7 and turning the ball over twice. Meanwhile, the Aggies, who came into the matchup averaging 80.3 points per game, started the game by making 5-of-9 attempts from the floor.

But then Clark found success on both ends of the floor. 

UCLA’s second-leading scorer heading into the game scored two straight buckets – including his trademark steal-and-score – to grab the Bruins’ first lead at 13-11. Behind 5-of-8 shooting, seven rebounds and a pair of steals from Clark, the blue and gold outscored Davis 26-10 in the final 14 minutes of the first half. 

The Bruins overcame shooting 40.6% from the field and 33.3% outside of Clark in the opening 20 minutes by holding the Aggies to 32.1% shooting from the field and forcing 10 turnovers. Coach Mick Cronin’s squad scored 14 points off those turnovers and 18 points in the paint to enter the half leading 33-21.

After a slow and stagnant first half, both teams found offensive success early in the second half.

Davis resembled the team that averaged more than 80 points per game coming into Wednesday by starting the half 8-of-15 from the field and 3-of-4 from 3-point range.

But unfortunately for the visiting Aggies, the blue and gold resembled the team that picked up double-digit wins against then-No. 20 Maryland and then-No. 13 Kentucky the week prior.

The Bruins made their first seven shots, including their first two 3-point buckets, to stretch their lead to 20 less than five minutes into the second half. Redshirt senior guard Tyger Campbell followed a 2-of-7 showing in the first half by making a pair of jumpers – including one from deep – during UCLA’s perfect stretch.

Redshirt senior guard Tyger Campbell dribbles past a defender. (Jack Stenzel/Daily Bruin)

Campbell ultimately went a flawless 4-for-4 from the field in the second half to finish with 17 points and a plus-minus of +29. Only Clark’s +30 plus-minus and an 18-point double-double were better among the Bruins.

After following its 9-of-11 start to the half by missing eight straight shots, the blue and gold made eight of its next nine shots to put the game away with a 74-47 lead with five minutes to play.

Senior guard/forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored nine of his 14 points in the second half, while freshman guard Amari Bailey waited until the second half to attempt all six of his shots and score seven points. Bailey did exit the game with an injury after appearing to twist his ankle in the closing minutes of the game.

UCLA closed out nonconference play, having won seven of its last eight contests by double digits. The Bruins will travel north to take on Washington and Washington State over the New Year’s weekend.

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Gavin Carlson | Sports staff
Carlson is currently a staff writer on the football, men's basketball and women's basketball beats. He was previously a reporter on the softball and men's golf beats.
Carlson is currently a staff writer on the football, men's basketball and women's basketball beats. He was previously a reporter on the softball and men's golf beats.
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