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  • Top-Seeded UCLA Mows Through No. 9-Seeded Colorado To Move On In The Pac-12 Tourney

Top-Seeded UCLA Mows Through No. 9-Seeded Colorado To Move On In The Pac-12 Tourney

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Basketball

Propelled by a career-high 26 points from freshman guard Amari Bailey, the top-seeded UCLA men's basketball team got off to a strong start in its opening game of the 2023 Pac-12 Tournament on Thursday, dispatching of No. 9 seed Colorado, 80-69 in the quarterfinals at T-Mobile Arena. With the win, UCLA advances to face the winner of No. 4 Oregon and No. 5 Washington State in the semifinals on Friday at 6:00 p.m.

Bailey led all scorers on the day, finishing 8-of-12 from the field and 8-of-9 from the free throw line. He also made two of his three shots from behind the arc. Not to be outdone by his classmate, Pac-12 Freshman of the Year center Adem Bona notched a double-double, ending the game with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
 
The No. 9 seed Buffaloes played a near flawless first 20 minutes of action, shooting 58-percent from the field, the highest percentage of any UCLA opponent this season. Five different Colorado players scored from three-point range, as the team was 7-of-12 from behind the arc. Guards Ethan Wright and Jalen Gabbidon each notched a pair of threes, finishing the half with 10 and 8 points, respectively.
 
Luckily for the Bruins, Bailey enjoyed one of his best halfs of the season to counter the Colorado threat. Despite playing only 11 minutes, Bailey scored 12 of his team's first 19 points to lead all scorers heading into the intermission. Bona also had 8 first-half points.
 
Although the Buffaloes enjoyed a slight 38-37 advantage at the half, UCLA came out in the second and righted the ship, going on a 9-0 run to take a 55-49 lead. Subsequent layups from Bona and Bailey, including a big three from David Singleton propelled the Bruins on that run.
 
Colorado did recover, coming within a point (59-58) following a 3-pointer from Tristan Da Silva, however that's as close as the Buffaloes would get, with the Bruins outscoring its opponent 21-11 in the final seven minutes of action.
 
Pac-12 First-Team selection Tyger Campbell finished with 18 points, while Pac-12 Player of the Year Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 16.
 
Thursday's victory was the 11th-straight for UCLA, as the Bruins have not lost since Jan. 26.