UCLA
18-11, 11-5
Arizona State
19-9, 10-5
Jaquez Jr.'s Buzzer Beater Sinks Sun Devils, 75-72
February 27, 2020 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – Freshman Jaime Jaquez Jr. knocked down a 3-pointer with 0.6 seconds remaining to give the UCLA men's basketball team a 75-72 win over Arizona State Thursday evening in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom.
Freshman Jake Kyman scored 19 of his team-high 21 points in the first half to lead the Bruins (18-11, 11-5 in Pac-12 play). Jaquez Jr. and redshirt sophomore Jalen Hill registered 13 points apiece. Redshirt sophomore Cody Riley scored each of his 11 points in the second half and redshirt freshman Tyger Campbell added 10 points and a career-high 14 assists.
POSTGAME: Jake Kyman | POSTGAME: Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Remy Martin scored a game-high 30 points for the Sun Devils (19-9, 10-5), who entered the contest riding a seven-game winning streak. Rob Edwards, who made seven of nine shots from 3-point range, added 23 points. Alonzo Verge Jr. posted 12 points before fouling out in the second half.
"At the end of the day, players win games and we just happened to make one more play, guys," said Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. "Let's just be honest. We just happened to make one more play. I didn't call timeout because, right there, I didn't want to give him a chance to come out in a zone or change defenses and get organized. I think sometimes you've got to have faith in your players. Try to get the switch I wanted, then have Tyger try to create something. Obviously, Jaime's a tough kid, man. He's got amazing fortitude for a young player."
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCES: Coach Cronin | UCLA's Student Athletes
The Bruins converted just six of their first 19 field-goal attempts (31.6 percent), as the Sun Devils established a 24-14 lead with 8:21 remaining in the first half. On the heels of two Campbell free throws, Kyman sparked UCLA's offense by hitting three consecutive 3-point baskets. That trio of 3-pointers put UCLA ahead for the first time since the 14-minute mark.
Kyman knocked down two more from distance before halftime and piled up a game-high 19 points in the game's first 20 minutes. His first-half point total (19) marked the most points scored by any UCLA player this season before halftime. UCLA led at intermission, 41-35.
The frontcourt combination of Hill and Riley combined to score 15 of the Bruins' first 17 second-half points. UCLA led, 58-50, as the second half approached the midway point. Arizona State's Rob Edwareds scored the next eight points, however, and a Verge Jr. jump shot put the Sun Devils back into the lead with 7:54 remaining in the second half.
There were five ties and six lead changes the rest of the way, capped by the Jaquez Jr. triple off the feed from Campbell near the top of the key. Jaquez Jr. intercepted the Sun Devils' inbounds pass to seal the victory.
UCLA (11-5 in the Pac-12) is currently tied with Oregon (11-5 in the Pac-12) for first place in the Pac-12 standings.
The Bruins will play their regular-season home finale against Arizona on Saturday evening. Game time in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom is 7 p.m. (PT). The Bruins' Pac-12 showdown will be nationally televised on ESPN.
