UCLA staves off Northwestern’s comeback to earn trip to Sweet 16

Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 24 factors, and UCLA withstood a second-half push from Northwestern to get again to the Candy 16 with a 68-63 victory on Saturday evening.The second-seeded Bruins (31-5) turned up the defensive depth late, holding the seventh-seeded Wildcats to 1-for-12 capturing throughout a key late-game stretch to seal the win.The win was marred when David Singleton went down in excessive ache with a proper leg harm with 20.3 seconds remaining. He stayed down on the courtroom for a couple of minutes earlier than getting helped off by teammates and going straight to the locker room. There was no quick phrase on the extent of the harm.UCLA made it to a 3rd straight Candy 16 for the primary time in 15 years. The Bruins will play the winner of Sunday’s sport between Gonzaga and TCU within the West Area semifinals in Las Vegas on Thursday evening.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Dylan Andrews #2 of the UCLA Bruins reacts after a 3 level basket through the second half in opposition to the Northwestern Wildcats within the second spherical of the NCAA Males’s Basketball Event at Golden 1 Heart on March 18, 2023, in Sacramento, California.  (Ezra Shaw/Getty Pictures)Amari Bailey added 14 factors, and Tyger Campbell scored 12 for UCLA.Boo Buie scored 18 factors to guide Northwestern (22-12), Matthew Nicholson added 17 and Chase Audige scored all 16 of his factors within the second half.The Wildcats ended their second journey to the event in the identical trend as the primary six years in the past, dropping within the second spherical.They put up a great battle in opposition to the extra tournament-tested Bruins and had an opportunity till going chilly from the sector late within the sport.The important thing second got here within the remaining two minutes when Adem Bona blocked a drive by Audige, sending UCLA out in transition. David Singleton hit the 3-pointer that put the Bruins up 62-56 with 1:50 to play.UCLA managed the sport early, contesting practically each shot and neutralizing Northwestern’s high-scoring backcourt of Buie and Audige. UCLA gamers rejoice close to the top of a win in a first-round school basketball sport in opposition to UNC Asheville within the males’s NCAA Event in Sacramento, Calif., Thursday, March 16, 2023.  (AP Photograph/Randall Benton)FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON’S EXPLICIT ABBREVIATION PUTS INTERNET IN FRENZY AFTER MARCH MADNESS UPSETJaquez fueled a 12-2 run halfway by means of the half to construct up an 11-point lead, getting a steal and dunk, adopted by one other dunk in transition following a blocked shot by Kenneth Nwuba.Buie lastly made his first basket of the sport with a drive simply earlier than the buzzer to chop UCLA’s result in 35-25 on the break.Audige acquired going within the second half with 14 factors within the first eight minutes after being held scoreless earlier than the break. The Wildcats tied it at 45 when Buie was credited with a basket on a goaltending name halfway by means of the half.The sport remained shut from there till the top.BIG PICTURENorthwestern: The Wildcats adopted up their first event look with dropping data for the subsequent 5 seasons. Coach Chris Collins acquired them again into second place within the Large Ten within the common season and now appears to be like to construct from there. Amari Bailey #5 and Jaime Jaquez Jr. #24 of the UCLA Bruins react after a rating through the second half in opposition to the Northwestern Wildcats within the second spherical of the NCAA Males’s Basketball Event at Golden 1 Heart on March 18, 2023, in Sacramento, California. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Pictures)CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPUCLA: Bona returned after lacking the final two video games with a left shoulder harm. He aggravated the harm on a dunk within the second half and went to the bench instantly however did return to the sport and had the important thing block late. His presence might be key subsequent weekend.UP NEXTUCLA is 2 wins shy of its twentieth Ultimate 4 look.