UCLA Basketball: 3 takeaways from triple-overtime victory over Pepperdine

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 01: Tyger Campbell, Jalen Hill, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Cody Riley, Chris Smith, and Prince Ali of the UCLA Bruins cheer from on the bench as underclassmen play in the final minutes against the San Jose State Spartansat Pauley Pavilion on December 1, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. UCLA won 93-64. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

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LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 08: Cody Riley #2 of the UCLA Bruins shoots a free throw in the first half of the game against the Denver Pioneers at Pauley Pavilion on December 8, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

2. The Bruins had several opportunities to put the game away from the line – but could not seal the deal

The Bruins have not necessarily been spectacular from the line during Mick Cronin’s tenure. In 2019-20, they ranked 142nd nationally in free-throw percentage, knocking down 71.8% of their shots from there. Not fantastic, but also not an awful mark, by any means.

These past two games have left much to be desired, however, particularly given how much UCLA has been able to get to the line – and seeing just how well opposing teams are shooting from the charity stripe. Against San Diego State, the Bruins shot 17-24 (70.8%) from the line – whereas the Aztecs, despite getting to the line 12 fewer times, were nearly perfect, going 10-12.

That is not necessarily game-changing given the Aztecs won by 15, but the free-throw disparity could not be any more evident in this game against Pepperdine. There were several times in this tilt where UCLA could have put the game away from the line but failed to.

There was no greater example of this than at the end of the second overtime period, where – trailing by one point – Jaquez, Jr. missed three of four free-throws with under ten seconds left. His one made free throw, obviously, was necessary for tying the game and keeping UCLA alive – but they could have been in a position to win it there and then.

For the game, the Bruins went 25-37 from the line – a 67.6% mark from the charity stripe. The 37 attempts, obviously, is fantastic – but it largely only reached that point due to the extra three periods. At the end of regulation, the Bruins had attempted just 21 shots from the line.

Contrarily, the Waves were nearly perfect from the line, draining 29 of their 33 attempts. Although they ultimately registered fewer attempts by the end of the contest, again, that was only made possible through the extra periods – compared to UCLA’s 21 attempts, Pepperdine was 24-26 at the end of the opening 40 minutes.

UCLA’s improved mark in the last 15 minutes speaks a bit to their aforementioned composure, but, altogether, it does leave a bit to be desired. Again, there were multiple opportunities for the Bruins to put this game away – but they failed to come through in key moments.

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