March Madness 2022: UCLA avoids upset with late surge, holds off Akron 57-53

Tyger Campbell rescued UCLA from a possible upset, scoring eight straight factors late within the second half, and the fourth-seeded Bruins rallied for a 57-53 win over No. 13 seed Akron within the first spherical of the NCAA Match on Thursday evening.

With the Bruins down 51-47 with 3 1/2 minutes left, Campbell took management and helped his crew keep away from getting bounced on the opening day of the event. Campbell hit a nook 3-pointer to drag UCLA inside one, knocked down a 15-footer for the lead and added a 25-footer because the shot clock was expiring to place the Bruins forward 55-51 with 1:17 left.

“My teammates simply stored discovering me and I simply was desirous to make a play,” Campbell stated. “I knew down the stretch, coach made some changes, and I simply needed to execute on them and the photographs went in.”

Even with Campbell’s streak, the Bruins (26-7) nonetheless needed to sweat the ultimate moments after a missed free throw and Jamie Jacquez Jr. lacking a jumper with 15 seconds left. Akron’s Ali Ali drove to the basket however didn’t have a clear look and was blocked by Cody Riley.

Johnny Juzang knocked down a pair of free throws, and the Bruins moved on to face No. 5 seed Saint Mary’s on Saturday.

“This jogs my memory of my Large East days. You’re going to win a rock struggle, you’ve bought to place your hardhat on and also you’ve bought to care for the ball, get some further possessions,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin stated. “And the offensive rebounding was enormous, and we didn’t flip it over. We had been capable of lastly get some — cling in there and get some stops and get a number of photographs to go down.”

Campbell completed with 16 factors and Jaquez added 15. Jules Bernard, who hit a 3 to start out UCLA’s run when it trailed 47-39, added 10 factors.

Xavier Castaneda led Akron (24-10) with 18 factors and Enrique Freeman added 14 earlier than fouling out with 2:26 remaining on an unlawful display. Ali, the Zips’ main scorer, was held to 5 factors after averaging almost 15 per sport.

“We had our probabilities,” Akron coach John Groce stated. “Defensively I believed we had been spectacular, fairly frankly, after which offensively we had some empty possessions right here and there that we’ll in all probability check out in some unspecified time in the future in time and need we may have again. That’s the best way it really works.”

A 12 months after an sudden run to the Ultimate 4, the Bruins entered the event a classy choice to make a run within the wide-open East. They almost turned one other upset sufferer for Groce, who misplaced within the opening spherical of the event for the primary time after going 3-0 in his earlier NCAA journeys because the coach at Ohio and Illinois. Akron was a 13 1/2-point underdog, in keeping with FanDuel Sportsbook.

The Zips had their probabilities, particularly after constructing an eight-point lead. Castaneda linked on consecutive 3s after UCLA took a 39-38 lead, and Greg Tribble scored on a baseline reverse, falling down as he was fouled, to push the Zips’ result in 47-39 with 7:54 left.

However UCLA closed the sport on an 18-6 run.

“I feel we didn’t panic, and like I stated, we’ve been in these positions earlier than final 12 months within the event, additionally all through our season,” Bernard stated. “So we all know what that feeling is like, and we simply attempt to keep composed as greatest as attainable and know that our effort and toughness would pull us by way of.”

OFFICIAL HISTORY

Amy Bonner was one in every of three officers for the nightcap in Portland, turning into the second lady to officiate an NCAA Match sport. Melanie Davis labored a sport between Illinois and San Diego State in 2002.

Bonner has labored in a number of conferences and was employed to work within the Large 12 a few seasons in the past.

CRONIN’S CONTRACT

Earlier Thursday, UCLA introduced a brand new six-year contract for coach Mick Cronin that runs by way of the 2027-28 season. Cronin was employed in April 2019.

BIG PICTURE

Akron: The Zips entered having received eight straight, together with a sweep of the MAC Match and a 75-55 rout of rival Kent State within the championship sport. It was the fifth NCAA bid for the Zips and their first since 2013. They’re nonetheless in search of their first win.

UCLA: The Bruins received regardless of a quiet evening from Juzang, who completed with 9 factors on 3-of-11 capturing. It was the fourth time in six video games Juzang failed to succeed in double figures.

UP NEXT

The Bruins will face the Gaels within the second spherical on Saturday.