Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Tyger Campbell lifts UCLA to Pac-12 title game with win over Oregon

UCLA head coach Mick Cronin yells to his players during the first half against Ohio State at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland on Dec. 19, 2020. Cronin's Bruins advanced to the Pac-12 title game with a win over the Oregon Ducks on Friday, March 10, 2023.   (Tribune News Service)
By Adam Grosbard Tribune News Service

LAS VEGAS – UCLA had just watched its best big man leave the floor with a scary left shoulder injury, and an eight-point lead shrink to three in the immediate aftermath of his absence. The Bruins looked on the verge of losing grip of their Pac-12 Tournament semifinal matchup with Oregon with 14 minutes, 47 seconds to play.

Senior guard Tyger Campbell answered with a soothing jumper. Nothing special, but enough to ease some worries in Westwood.

But it was a start of a run in which Campbell scored 11 of the Bruins’ next 13 points. A jumper off the backboard, another pull-up, a 3-pointer. Then, the coup de grace, a pull-up jumper with 7-footer Kel’el Ware closing in. The diminutive Campbell didn’t blink, hitting the shot.

His efforts pushed the UCLA lead back to 11, and Campbell’s career-high 28 points pushed the Bruins to a 75-56 win, clinching a spot in the championship game Saturday against the winner of Friday night’s Arizona-Arizona State game.

Campbell added six assists while fellow senior Jaime Jaquez Jr. contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds.

The semifinal had a good tempo from the start. The teams each ran after rebounds to try to prevent the other from settling into its half-court defense. But after making its first two shots, UCLA (29-4) missed 7 of 8, with Jaquez seeing two attempts blocked.

Jaquez started the game 2 for 7 from the floor and Campbell was 2 for 8.

But a 3-pointer from senior David Singleton settled the Bruins. Freshman Dylan Andrews came off the bench and hit two quick jumpers before lobbing the ball to fellow freshman Adem Bona for a go-ahead dunk.

Bona picked up right where he left off Thursday, providing UCLA a spark. He finished a second lob from Campbell and met Rivaldo Soares at the rim for a two-handed block.

As he fell back to earth, Bona grabbed the rebound and passed it off before landing on his back. Campbell rewarded his efforts with a 3-pointer on the other end.

He continued that work to start the second half, blocking N’Faly Dante at the rim before drawing a charge.

But after a collision at midcourt, Bona landed on his left shoulder and immediately began signaling for attention. Trainers from both teams tended to him and helped him off the court. He walked to the locker room with a trainer holding his left arm aloft gingerly.

Bona returned to the Bruins’ sideline without a wrap or ice around the injured shoulder but kept his left arm cradled to his abdomen as he cheered on his teammates.