UCLA
11-2,2-0Pac-12
UC Davis
7-5,0-0Big West
UCLA Downs UC Davis in Wednesday Matinee, 81-54
December 21, 2022 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – Junior guard Jaylen Clark scored a game-high 18 points to lead No. 13 UCLA past UC Davis, 81-54, on Wednesday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom.
With the victory, UCLA (11-2) extended its winning streak to eight games. The Bruins have logged their first eight-game winning streak since winning 10 consecutive games late in the 2016-17 season.
Senior guard Tyger Campbell finished with 17 points and five assists, connecting on 6 of 10 shots, as UCLA improved its all-time record against UC Davis to 5-0.
Senior guard/forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. rounded out the Bruins' list of double-figure scorers, totaling 14 points, eight rebounds and three assists.
UCLA shot just over 49 percent from the field against UC Davis (7-5) on Wednesday afternoon. The Bruins limited the visiting Aggies to just 37.5 percent shooting and forced 20 turnovers.
Senior center Kenneth Nwuba tallied a career-high four blocks in the non-conference win, finishing with four points and three rebounds. Freshman forward Adem Bona had nine points, six rebounds and two blocked shots.
Elijah Pepper scored a team-leading 16 points for UC Davis, connecting on 6 of 13 shots and 2-of-5 attempts from 3-point distance. Robby Beasley had 14 points and Ty Johnson finished with 13 points.
UCLA led UC Davis at halftime by a 33-21 margin and never saw its lead fall to any fewer than 15 points through the game's final 15 minutes.
Clark led all players in the first half in scoring (13 points), rebounding (seven) and steals (two). His dynamic play helped the Bruins overcome a slow start. UCLA had just three of its first 12 shot attempts and did not take its first lead until the 10:49 mark on a driving layup by Clark.
UC Davis opened the game by scoring five unanswered points. Clark's basket at the 10:49 mark put UCLA ahead, as that layup was part of the Bruins' 8-0 scoring run. The scoring spree was capped off by consecutive baskets from Jaquez Jr.
Campbell pushed UCLA's lead into double digits for the first time at the 2:34 mark of the first half. The Bruins' point guard drilled a jump shot, making the score 30-19 in UCLA's favor.
UCLA opened a 16-8 scoring run to open the second half, helping stretch the Bruins' lead to 20 points. Campbell had a pair of key baskets during that scoring run, including a 3-pointer that put UCLA ahead, 45-26, at the 16:43 mark.
The Bruins' lead continued to hover around 20 points for most of the second half, before ballooning late in the contest. UCLA would go on to score eight consecutive points, capped off by a Clark jumper – his final basket of the night – that gave UCLA a 74-47 advantage with just five minutes remaining.
The Bruins' cushion grew as large as 29 points, when fifth-year guard David Singleton buried a 3-pointer with just under 90 seconds remaining.
UCLA will move into the bulk of its Pac-12 schedule next week. The Bruins will play at Washington State on Friday, Dec. 30, and at Washington on Sunday, Jan. 1. UCLA's game at Washington State will begin at 8 p.m. (PT). The Bruins' contest on New Year's Day in Seattle is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. (PT).
