Branden Carlson’s tip-in at the buzzer snapped UCLA’s six-game winning streak and gave visiting Utah a season sweep of the Bruins with a 70-69 decision Sunday in Los Angeles.
The Utes (16-10, 7-8 Pac-12 Conference) took a one-point lead with 19 seconds remaining in a back-and-forth contest when Deivon Smith dished his 10th assist of the game on a no-look feed to Keba Keita for a contested lay-in.
UCLA (14-12, 9-6), seeking its ninth win 10 games, ran a screen at the top of the key to isolate Dylan Andrews on the 7-foot Carlson. The play worked, resulting in a go-ahead jumper with six seconds remaining for the final two of Andrews’ 15 points.
Carlson earned redemption on the ensuing change of possession, sprinting to the basket as Smith attacked the rim for a layup attempt out of Utah’s press break. Carlson’s put-back after UCLA’s Adem Bona altered Smith’s shot completed a 17-point, seven-rebound performance.
Smith finished with a double-double, adding another 17 points to go with his 10 assists and match Carlson’s team scoring high.
UCLA’s Lazar Stefanovic scored 13 of his game-high 19 points in the first half against his former team. The Utah transfer also grabbed eight rebounds and passed for a team-high three assists.
Andrews’ 15 points extended his streak of consecutive games scoring in double figures to seven. No other Bruin scored in double figures.
UCLA played about the last 30 minutes of the game without season-long leading scorer Sebastian Mack, who was ejected with 9:53 left in the first half for a flagrant-2 violation on an elbow thrown at Carlson on a midcourt screen.
Cole Bajema and Gabe Madsen each scored 11 points for Utah, which snapped a three-game skid to avoid further damage to its NCAA Tournament at-large consideration. Keita added nine points.
Utah’s 90-44 win in the previous meeting on Jan. 11 was UCLA’s most lopsided defeat since 1997.
–Field Level Media
