UCLA coach Mick Cronin called timeout with just over a minute to play and his Bruins clinging onto a two-point lead. It was one of those nights where everyone knew who was getting the ball, but with the way things were going for Johnny Juzang, it didn’t matter.
Juzang drove to the middle of the paint and shot right over his defender to create four-point cushion that felt a lot larger at the time. His shot gave the Bruins breathing room, but Jules Bernard’s long jump shot with 12 seconds left helped to keep Washington at bay in UCLA’s 64-61 Pac-12 victory in Seattle Saturday night.
The Bruins (14-5, 10-3 Pac-12) are now 9-1 in games decided by five points or less, and they did it despite shooting just 6 of 18 from the free throw line.
“Adversity either kills you, or it makes you stronger,” Cronin said. “We grinded…it’s the ultimate win. When you can’t make free throws, especially in the second half, it puts unbelievable pressure on your defense. It tests your character and resolve to continue to compete.”
Forward Cody Riley was 1 of 6 from the free throw line, but his one make came with three seconds left before Washington’s Quade Green heaved a fading 30-foot shot at the final buzzer that was off the mark.
Bernard’s shot – though seemingly more heroic due to time and score – was not possible without the spectacular offensive effort of Juzang, who scored a career-high 32 points on 12 of 23 shooting, including five 3s. He also added seven rebounds.
Bernard finished with 14 points, a positive sign for Bruin fans after Bernard had scored just 11 points the previous three games combined. Jaime Jaquez Jr. score three points, but grabbed 10 rebounds.
Juzang had an impressive opening half, scoring 21 of UCLA’s 26 points. He outscored Washington (4-16, 2-12) himself in the frame.
The scoring performance displayed Juzang’s array of skills during a stretch that saw him score 18 straight. More impressively, he did it against two different Washington defenses switching from a match-up zone to man defense at times.
“Washington runs a unique zone defense, so it requires different reads,” Juzang said. “The coaches coached us up so we knew what we were looking for.”
Juzang’s scoring from every scenario, including catch-and-shoot 3-pointers, baseline fadeaway jumpers, pull-up jumpers off the dribble and attacking the basket to get fouled to convert from the free throw line.
“When they played man (defense), it’s just reading what the defense gives you. Create the advantage and try and score,” he said.
He began the game with two 3-pointers, part of UCLA’s 11-0 run to start the game. But the Huskies responded with 11 straight points themselves. The Bruins sat at 11 points for almost nine minutes, missing eight straight shots.
Juzang stopped the scoring drought by rattling off 15 straight from the 7:08 mark until the halftime buzzer. UCLA lead at halftime 26-20.
“We see it everyday in practice,” Jaquez Jr. said of Juzang. “We love to see him get hot. It makes it easier for us.”
Juzang’s scoring was impressive. But it was the Bruins’ defense that had Cronin smiling after the game. The Bruins held Washington to just 36% shooting from the field. However, defending the 3-point line was still an issue even Saturday night. The Huskies made 10 3-pointers.
Marcus Tsohonis led Washington with 22 points, including six 3s (on 9 attempts). At one point in the second half, Tsohonis made three straight 3s that tied the game at 34, but UCLA responded with a 10-0 run sparked by back-to-back 3s from David Singleton before jumpers from Juzang and Riley, respectively.
A Tsohonis 3-pointer tied the game at 57 with 2:18 to play. The long ball has been hurting UCLA. Cronin knows it, but the problem is the Pac-12 does, too.
“The truth is we play a lot of shooters – David (Singleton), Jake (Kyman) and Johnny (Juzang). They’re not lockdown, athletic defenders. They’re shooters,” Cronin said. “So, we’re challenged at times defending 22-feet away from the basket.”
Instead of heading back to Los Angeles 9-4, the Bruins are 10-3 in Pac-12 play. A split against the Washington schools on the road in early February is a lot better than losing back-to-back games. Cronin knew how important the win was.
“We had every reason to fold up,” Cronin said. “I’ve never seen a team win a conference game on the road going 6 of 18 from the free throw line, I’ve never even heard of it. Really, I’m just proud of the way our guys battled.”
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