UCLA
3-2,0-0Pac-12
Baylor
4-1,0-0Big 12
No. 8 UCLA Drops 80-75 Decision to No. 5 Baylor in Las Vegas
November 20, 2022 | Men's Basketball
LAS VEGAS โ Jaylen Clark notched the second double-double of his career as No. 8 UCLA fell to No. 5 Baylor, 80-75, in the consolation final of the Continental Tire Main Event at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday afternoon.
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Clark scored a season-high 23 points and totaled 10 rebounds for the Bruins (3-2). Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Tyger Campbell joined Clark in double figures with 15 and 12 points, respectively.
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Baylor was led by a pair of 20-plus point performances from its backcourt in LJ Cryer (28 points) and Adam Flagler (22 points). The two guards each made four 3-pointers, shooting a combined 52 percent from the field on Sunday (17-for-33).
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"We've worked hard at it," said Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. "We're just not there yet. Not against a team like this. We're just not there yet. Not enough to win the game. โฆ Mental effort is more important than physical effort โ to do what you're being told to do."
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With the game tied, 50-50, UCLA's Dylan Andrews nailed a 3-pointer to give the Bruins a 53-30 advantage with 11:45 remaining. From that point in the contest, the Bears used an 11-0 scoring run to secure a 61-53 lead. Dale Bonner sank a game-tying 3-pointer less than 25 seconds later, and Baylor regained the lead with five ensuing free throws over the next two minutes of action. A 3-pointer by Flagler at the 9:11 mark put the Bears ahead, 61-53.
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UCLA cut Baylor's cushion to three points at the seven-minute mark and down to one point after Clark made two free throws with 3:40 to play (the Bruins were down, 68-67).
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Cryer responded for Baylor by knocking down a 3-pointer with 2:50 remaining in regulation. UCLA never tied the game or reduced the Bears' advantage to any fewer than three points over the final three minutes.
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Clark scored 17 points in the first half, connecting on 8 of 10 shots. Two of his biggest buckets too place during a 10-0 UCLA scoring run. He had a putback dunk and a layup that drew a foul, helping put the Bruins ahead of Baylor, 21-19, with 7:14 to play before the intermission.
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UCLA trailed Baylor at halftime, 37-35. A 6-0 scoring surge late in the opening half was capped by another Clark dunk, off a bounce pass from Andrews.
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No. 8-ranked UCLA will return home to face Pepperdine on Wednesday evening in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Game time is 7:30 p.m. (PT). UCLA's non-conference game against the Waves will be televised by the Pac-12 Network (broadcasters, J.B. Long and Don MacLean).
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