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UCLA Basketball: 3 takeaways from overtime win at Arizona State

By Benjamin Zacher

Dec 31, 2020; Los Angeles, California, CA; UCLA Bruins guard Johnny Juzang (3) and forward Jalen Hill (24) celebrate the 72-70 victory against the Utah Utes at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2020; Los Angeles, California, CA; UCLA Bruins guard Johnny Juzang (3) and forward Jalen Hill (24) celebrate the 72-70 victory against the Utah Utes at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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UCLA Bruins players and Arizona State Sun Devils players kneel prior to the national anthem Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
UCLA Bruins players and Arizona State Sun Devils players kneel prior to the national anthem Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

UCLA Basketball escaped Tempe with an overtime victory over Arizona State in a big Pac-12 win – and have some important things to take away.

After facing a two-point halftime deficit, UCLA Basketball overcame a shorthanded but scrappy Arizona State Sun Devils squad in overtime, 81-75, to continue their undefeated start to Pac-12 play.

This was a game that Arizona State, understandably, struggled to maintain a lead in – their largest of the game was 32-28 just half a minute into the second half – but despite being undermanned, the Sun Devils respectably hung around and gave UCLA all it could handle.  Arizona State sent the game to overtime behind two free-throws by Alonzo Verge Jr. with just five seconds left and began the extra stanza with a jumper by Verge – but failed to keep up with the Bruins in overtime.

For Arizona State, this was an incredibly impressive showing despite being without First Team All-Conference guard Remy Martin (16.9 ppg), who missed the game due to a death in the family – as well as Jalen Graham (5.6 ppg) and Taeshon Cherry (3.9).

In their stead, the Sun Devils featured two 20-plus scorers in Verge (25 points, 6-15 2PT, 2-7 3PT, 7-8 FT) and Josh Christopher (22 points, 9-18 2PT, nine rebounds) – while Marcus Bagley contributed a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds.

For UCLA, this was not necessarily the most impressive showing – but it was a crucial one for a team currently operating without star guard Chris Smith.  The Bruins were led by just two double-digit scorers in Cody Riley – more on him later – and David Singleton, who produced a season-high 14 points.  UCLA did, however, feature five players score eight or nine points in the win.

Among many of the noteworthy things in this game, this win was the first road win for UCLA this season – and one of their most significant victories of the year.  Now 4-0 in the Pac-12 behind wins over California, Utah, Colorado, and Arizona State, the Bruins will have a quick turnaround and return to the court on Saturday – but Mick Cronin and crew have a few things to take away from their showing against the Sun Devils on Thursday night.

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