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UCLA Claims 66-64 Win Over Washington in Pac-12 Opener
from UCLA Men's Basketball website
SEATTLE – The UCLA men's basketball team built a 10-point halftime lead and held on for a dramatic 66-64 victory over Washington in Thursday night's Pac-12 opener for both teams.
Freshman guard Jake Kyman erupted for a career-high 21 points, sinking 7 of 12 attempts from 3-point distance. He accounted for seven of UCLA's 10 makes from beyond the arc, including the game-winning shot with just eight seconds remaining.
UCLA registered the 1,900th win in program history on Thursday, playing before 9,027 fans at Alaska Airlines Arena.
Junior guard Chris Smith chipped in 17 points on 8-for-13 shooting and had a team-high 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Freshman guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. registered six points and 11 rebounds.
UCLA (8-6, 1-0 Pac-12) carried a 10-point lead into the locker room at halftime, but Washington (10-4, 0-1) responded with an 8-0 run at the beginning of the second half to make it a close game. The contest remained tight the rest of the way, as it remained a one-possession game for the final 15 minutes.
The final minute provided plenty of drama on its own, with the teams trading the lead before Kyman's game-winner.
With the score tied 61-61 heading into the last 60 seconds of the contest, a pair of hustle plays from Jaquez Jr. gave the Bruins a crucial two-point cushion.
First, he sprinted to grab a rebound after a UCLA three-point attempt clanged off the rim, saving it and throwing it off a Washington defender just before going out of bounds to preserve possession. On the ensuing play, he drew a foul on a pump fake in the paint before connecting on his both of his attempts from the free throw line.
The Huskies' Nahziah Carter connected from 3-point range on the following play to give the home team a one-point lead with 24 seconds remaining.
On the final offensive possession in the second half for UCLA, freshman Tyger Campbell found Kyman all alone on the left wing with a chance to win the game. Kyman, who grew up in Aliso Viejo, Calif., drained the shot to provide the game's final score line.
Smith came up with a steal by diving on a loose ball on the final play, sealing the victory.
"No matter what the result would have been, I was proud of them tonight," said Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. "You win because you grind out wins, so I was really proud of them today. You've gotta give [Kyman] credit. He believes he's making every shot."
Having entered the game with a career-high of just six points, Kyman was nearly unstoppable in the second half. He hit five 3-pointers after halftime, all of which put UCLA in the lead.
Kyman's first 3-point basket of the second half made the score 44-43, putting the Bruins back ahead following Washington's early-second half surge. Kyman's seven three-pointers were the most by a Bruin this season.
Smith was the star of the first half for UCLA, recording 11 points and snagging four offensive rebounds.
The Huskies were paced by Isaiah Stewart, who had team-highs in both points (24) and rebounds (11), including a 12-14 clip from the free throw line. Carter added 16 points.
UCLA will conclude its Pacific Northwest trip with a Pac-12 contest at Washington State on Saturday, Jan. 4. Game time is 4 p.m. (PT).
Freshman guard Jake Kyman erupted for a career-high 21 points, sinking 7 of 12 attempts from 3-point distance. He accounted for seven of UCLA's 10 makes from beyond the arc, including the game-winning shot with just eight seconds remaining.
UCLA registered the 1,900th win in program history on Thursday, playing before 9,027 fans at Alaska Airlines Arena.
Junior guard Chris Smith chipped in 17 points on 8-for-13 shooting and had a team-high 12 rebounds for his first double-double of the season. Freshman guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. registered six points and 11 rebounds.
UCLA (8-6, 1-0 Pac-12) carried a 10-point lead into the locker room at halftime, but Washington (10-4, 0-1) responded with an 8-0 run at the beginning of the second half to make it a close game. The contest remained tight the rest of the way, as it remained a one-possession game for the final 15 minutes.
The final minute provided plenty of drama on its own, with the teams trading the lead before Kyman's game-winner.
With the score tied 61-61 heading into the last 60 seconds of the contest, a pair of hustle plays from Jaquez Jr. gave the Bruins a crucial two-point cushion.
First, he sprinted to grab a rebound after a UCLA three-point attempt clanged off the rim, saving it and throwing it off a Washington defender just before going out of bounds to preserve possession. On the ensuing play, he drew a foul on a pump fake in the paint before connecting on his both of his attempts from the free throw line.
The Huskies' Nahziah Carter connected from 3-point range on the following play to give the home team a one-point lead with 24 seconds remaining.
On the final offensive possession in the second half for UCLA, freshman Tyger Campbell found Kyman all alone on the left wing with a chance to win the game. Kyman, who grew up in Aliso Viejo, Calif., drained the shot to provide the game's final score line.
Smith came up with a steal by diving on a loose ball on the final play, sealing the victory.
"No matter what the result would have been, I was proud of them tonight," said Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. "You win because you grind out wins, so I was really proud of them today. You've gotta give [Kyman] credit. He believes he's making every shot."
Having entered the game with a career-high of just six points, Kyman was nearly unstoppable in the second half. He hit five 3-pointers after halftime, all of which put UCLA in the lead.
Kyman's first 3-point basket of the second half made the score 44-43, putting the Bruins back ahead following Washington's early-second half surge. Kyman's seven three-pointers were the most by a Bruin this season.
Smith was the star of the first half for UCLA, recording 11 points and snagging four offensive rebounds.
The Huskies were paced by Isaiah Stewart, who had team-highs in both points (24) and rebounds (11), including a 12-14 clip from the free throw line. Carter added 16 points.
UCLA will conclude its Pacific Northwest trip with a Pac-12 contest at Washington State on Saturday, Jan. 4. Game time is 4 p.m. (PT).
Postgame Quotes - UCLA at Washington
POSTGAME QUOTES
UCLA 66, Washington 64
January 2, 2020
Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men’s Head Basketball Coach
on the team’s performance
“It’s like I told them at halftime, Washington’s gonna come strong, but if we just keep fighting and scrapping and do the things that we’re trying to do to build our program, I can live with the results. I could actually chew food, talk to the people in my life that I love that I haven’t talked to in two weeks, I could actually sleep more than two hours, I could live with myself whether Jake makes or misses that shot. Sometimes you have to go through despair to come out on the other side. The group has to experience pain. They kept thinking they’re just going to win because of our [recruit] rankings or you’re at UCLA, whatever. You win because you grind out wins, so I was really proud of them today. No matter what the result would have been, I was proud of them.”
on Jake Kyman
“I told him after the North Carolina game, ‘you’ve gotta make me play you.’ I think Jake loves UCLA so much the way he grew up with his Mom being a great volleyball player at UCLA. Part of Jake’s plan was he might get in as a freshman, he might not. We don’t have that luxury, we need someone who can shoot the ball. His effort and his energy in practice has been great and it showed tonight. Gotta give him credit, he believes he’s making every shot.”
on the game-winning shot
“I could sit here and tell you that’s how we drew it up, but we put him in the high post trying to slide him out hoping they would lose him. The guys did a great job, their zone is hard, it’s hard to dictate who’s going to be open. You can once in a while. The guys kept trying to probe the zone, and we finally got to where we could get that one more pass where we could get a great look. I think it was Chris Smith who passed it out.”
on playing four guards for a large portion of the game
“It’s hard against them. I thought our best chance was getting the ball to Chris or Jaime in the high post. They’re our best two players in the high post. That was really our thought.”
on the team’s buy-in
“The things I told them and said to them, I hope it humbled them. Sometimes the truth hurts. People sometimes think I’m intense or I’m the big bad wolf. You’ve gotta tell guys the truth now, the truth will set you free. You can get back to work and start grinding and try to make yourself a player instead of just thinking you’re a player because someone said you’re really good or some guy who lives in his mom’s basement gave you four stars.”
on changes from the Cal State Fullerton game
“We didn’t wear UCLA stuff all week. We were in blanks all week, coaching staff included.”
UCLA freshman guard/forward Jake Kyman
On if he knew he was going to have a special night…
“No, just kept doing the same thing. Just open shots, keep taking them. The next one comes, shoot it. The next one comes, shoot it again. My teammates get me the ball if I’m in the right spot, and hopefully just keep shooting it.”
On the last play
“It was supposed to move around to the top and then flare out to the corner or the wing and then move it back to Tyger. Then Tyger found me in the corner and I was open and it went in.”
On hitting the game-winner
“It felt great, putting us over and giving us a chance to win at the end. There are 100 things I could say about everyone else that helped us win. It wasn’t just my shot at the end. But I’m really proud of everyone on the team.”
On the post-game scene in the locker room
“It was amazing. I came in and everyone was splashing water on me. I was just so happy about it. Getting this win tonight really means a lot to us. We were struggling, so this really helps us out.”
UCLA junior guard Chris Smith
On recording a steal to close out the game
“It felt amazing. It was only 1.1 seconds left, so I figured I just gotta get the ball in. Worse case, we get fouled and hit some free throws to win the game. I feel that loose ball sealed the game.”
On bouncing back from the Fullerton game
“I was telling the guys, since this is my third year, that conference is basically a new season. No matter what happens in non-conference, league is totally different. It’s guys that we’re going to see the rest of the season, and they’re games we can win. It’s the most competitive part of the season other than postseason, obviously.”
On celebrating with Jake Kyman in the locker room
“It was great. It was the best feeling I’ve had since I got here other than the Oregon comeback. I only tell him two words all the time: keep shooting. I tell him every time he’s open, I’m gonna kick it to him so just be ready to shoot because that’s his job. We’ve been trying to find out what everyone’s role on the team is, and he’s solidified that. That guy’s got a stroke. Tell people to keep doing what they do best and, for Jake, that’s to keep shooting.
UCLA 66, Washington 64
January 2, 2020
Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men’s Head Basketball Coach
on the team’s performance
“It’s like I told them at halftime, Washington’s gonna come strong, but if we just keep fighting and scrapping and do the things that we’re trying to do to build our program, I can live with the results. I could actually chew food, talk to the people in my life that I love that I haven’t talked to in two weeks, I could actually sleep more than two hours, I could live with myself whether Jake makes or misses that shot. Sometimes you have to go through despair to come out on the other side. The group has to experience pain. They kept thinking they’re just going to win because of our [recruit] rankings or you’re at UCLA, whatever. You win because you grind out wins, so I was really proud of them today. No matter what the result would have been, I was proud of them.”
on Jake Kyman
“I told him after the North Carolina game, ‘you’ve gotta make me play you.’ I think Jake loves UCLA so much the way he grew up with his Mom being a great volleyball player at UCLA. Part of Jake’s plan was he might get in as a freshman, he might not. We don’t have that luxury, we need someone who can shoot the ball. His effort and his energy in practice has been great and it showed tonight. Gotta give him credit, he believes he’s making every shot.”
on the game-winning shot
“I could sit here and tell you that’s how we drew it up, but we put him in the high post trying to slide him out hoping they would lose him. The guys did a great job, their zone is hard, it’s hard to dictate who’s going to be open. You can once in a while. The guys kept trying to probe the zone, and we finally got to where we could get that one more pass where we could get a great look. I think it was Chris Smith who passed it out.”
on playing four guards for a large portion of the game
“It’s hard against them. I thought our best chance was getting the ball to Chris or Jaime in the high post. They’re our best two players in the high post. That was really our thought.”
on the team’s buy-in
“The things I told them and said to them, I hope it humbled them. Sometimes the truth hurts. People sometimes think I’m intense or I’m the big bad wolf. You’ve gotta tell guys the truth now, the truth will set you free. You can get back to work and start grinding and try to make yourself a player instead of just thinking you’re a player because someone said you’re really good or some guy who lives in his mom’s basement gave you four stars.”
on changes from the Cal State Fullerton game
“We didn’t wear UCLA stuff all week. We were in blanks all week, coaching staff included.”
UCLA freshman guard/forward Jake Kyman
On if he knew he was going to have a special night…
“No, just kept doing the same thing. Just open shots, keep taking them. The next one comes, shoot it. The next one comes, shoot it again. My teammates get me the ball if I’m in the right spot, and hopefully just keep shooting it.”
On the last play
“It was supposed to move around to the top and then flare out to the corner or the wing and then move it back to Tyger. Then Tyger found me in the corner and I was open and it went in.”
On hitting the game-winner
“It felt great, putting us over and giving us a chance to win at the end. There are 100 things I could say about everyone else that helped us win. It wasn’t just my shot at the end. But I’m really proud of everyone on the team.”
On the post-game scene in the locker room
“It was amazing. I came in and everyone was splashing water on me. I was just so happy about it. Getting this win tonight really means a lot to us. We were struggling, so this really helps us out.”
UCLA junior guard Chris Smith
On recording a steal to close out the game
“It felt amazing. It was only 1.1 seconds left, so I figured I just gotta get the ball in. Worse case, we get fouled and hit some free throws to win the game. I feel that loose ball sealed the game.”
On bouncing back from the Fullerton game
“I was telling the guys, since this is my third year, that conference is basically a new season. No matter what happens in non-conference, league is totally different. It’s guys that we’re going to see the rest of the season, and they’re games we can win. It’s the most competitive part of the season other than postseason, obviously.”
On celebrating with Jake Kyman in the locker room
“It was great. It was the best feeling I’ve had since I got here other than the Oregon comeback. I only tell him two words all the time: keep shooting. I tell him every time he’s open, I’m gonna kick it to him so just be ready to shoot because that’s his job. We’ve been trying to find out what everyone’s role on the team is, and he’s solidified that. That guy’s got a stroke. Tell people to keep doing what they do best and, for Jake, that’s to keep shooting.
Kyman hits 7 3s off the bench, UCLA stuns Washington 66-64
from the Associated Press via ESPN.com
SEATTLE -- Jake Kyman had played 17 total minutes in the previous four games. He'd scored 18 points and made four total 3-pointers in the nine games he'd appeared in for UCLA.
He was far down on the list of players expected to be the spark for the struggling Bruins.
"Nights come and go. When it's my time to step up I'm going to take that. When it's other guys time to play and show what they can do it's their time," Kyman said. "Certain games have different feels to them so whatever coach asks of me, whatever the team needs from me that's what I'm going to do."
Kyman hit seven 3-pointers and scored a career-high 21 points off the bench, the last coming with eight seconds left to give UCLA a 66-64 win over Washington on Thursday night in the Pac-12 Conference opener for both teams.
Kyman was left alone on the wing and nailed his final 3 of the game moments after Nahziah Carter had knocked down a 3-pointer to give Washington the lead. Kyman had been a non-factor for the Bruins, only to suddenly become the reason UCLA snapped its three-game losing streak.
All 12 of his shot attempts were 3-pointers and he made just enough.
"I told him after after the North Carolina game, ‘You've got to make me play you.' ... I think part of Jake's plan was he might get in as a freshman he might not, defer to other people. I told him we don't have that luxury. We need somebody to shoot the ball in the basket," UCLA coach Mick Cronin said.
Chris Smith added 17 points as UCLA (8-6) built a 10-point halftime lead, gave it away early in the second half but rallied back to stun the Huskies.
Isaiah Stewart continued his dominant freshman season for Washington, scoring a game-high 24 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Carter added 16 points, but the Huskies (10-4) dropped their second straight game. Quade Green added 11 points for the Huskies, but second-leading scorer Jaden McDaniels fouled out early in the second half after picking up four first-half fouls including a technical while on the bench. McDaniels had just three points in 14 minutes.
"I just kind of went with it. I told him I still want you to be aggressive, but you have to be disciplined and smart," Washington coach Mike Hopkins said of McDaniels. "Unfortunately it was a transition play and a couple of those fouls early were difficult for him. We need him more than 13 minutes."
Washington had a chance after Kyman's final 3-pointer but a handoff between Stewart and Carter was deflected. The possession arrow went to the Bruins and they were able to run out the final couple of seconds.
Down 34-24 at halftime, Washington started the second half on a 17-4 run carried mostly by Green and Stewart. Green's layup pulled Washington within 38-37 and Jamal Bey immediately stole the inbound pass and scored to give the Huskies a 39-38 lead, their first since 10-9.
The teams had 15 lead changes -- 10 in the second half -- and most of Washington's points in the closing minutes came from Stewart at the free-throw line.
Washington went back in front 56-54 on Carter's lob dunk while being fouled and the ensuing free throw, but a jumper from Tyger Campbell and Kyman's sixth 3-pointer put the Bruins ahead 59-56 with 2:09 left. Stewart made three of four free throws and Washington was even at 59-all with 90 seconds left.
Smith hit a floater for UCLA, but two more free throws by Stewart tied the game at 61. Jamie Jaquez Jr. made two free throws with 32.1 seconds left to give UCLA a 63-61 lead. Carter hit Washington's only 3-pointer of the second half, but Kyman had one more answer for the Bruins.
"I was really proud of them today," Cronin said. "No matter what the result would have been at the end I was really proud of them."
BIG PICTURE
UCLA: It's a major victory for Cronin in his first season. The Bruins had dropped three straight to Notre Dame, North Carolina and embarrassingly at home to Cal State Fullerton. Winning on the road against the defending Pac-12 regular season champs is a major boost. Cronin said after the loss to Fullerton, the Bruins practiced in blank uniforms without the UCLA name last week, both players and coaches.
Washington: Despite Stewart on the inside, the Huskies were dominated on the boards. Washington was outrebounded 38-27 and gave up 22 offensive rebounds leading to 15 second-chance points.
TECHNICAL PROBLEMS
McDaniels picked up his third technical foul of the season in 14 games.
"He's a good kid. He likes to have fun. He needs to be more serious in certain situations," Hopkins said.
UP NEXT
UCLA: The Bruins are at Washington State on Saturday.
Washington: The Huskies host USC on Sunday night.
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