No. 4 UCLA blows out Cal 78-43, improves to 15-0 at home

Updated Feb. 19, 2023 12:39 a.m. ET

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 20 points and No. 4 UCLA routed last-place California 78-43 on Saturday night to improve to 15-0 at Pauley Pavilion this season and extend the nation’s longest home winning streak to 23 games.

Amari Bailey contorted his body every which way in adding 16 points and nine rebounds for the first-place Bruins (23-4, 14-2 Pac-12). They clinched a first-round bye in next month's Pac-12 Tournament.

Their 11th win in a row over last-place Cal was essentially an exhibition game, with the Bruins leading all the way and drawing loud cheers for three dunks by Adem Bona and acrobatic moves around the basket by Bailey.

Jaquez stole the ball and fed Bailey for a one-handed dunk midway through the second half. Bailey returned the favor on the next play, finding Jaquez under the basket for an easy layup that extended UCLA's lead to 59-22, its largest of the game. Bailey later hit a 3-pointer.

Kuany Kuany scored 14 points to lead the Golden Bears (3-24, 2-14), who dropped their 11th in a row. They fell to 0-3 against top-5 teams this season, having also lost a pair against No. 8 Arizona.

Trailing 59-22, the Bears ran off 10 straight points during their only big run of the game.

The Bruins led 38-15 after a dominant first half. They held the Bears to 18% shooting, outrebounded them 25-14 and outscored them 20-6 in the paint. Cal didn't score its first basket until six minutes into the game.

BIG PICTURE

California: The Bears finished off another losing road trip, having also been blown out at USC on Thursday. They have four games remaining in the regular season before heading into the Pac-12 Tournament without leading scorer Devin Askew (15.5 points per game). He's been out since Feb. 1 after surgery for a sports hernia, one of several injuries to befall the team. The Bears have used 12 different starting lineups this season.

UCLA: The Bruins hit the road next week to play at Utah and Colorado. They beat the Utes by 19 points and the Buffaloes by 14 points in January. After that, they close the regular season at home against Arizona State and No. 8 Arizona. UCLA beat the Sun Devils by 12 points and lost at Arizona by six points. ... Kenneth Nwuba is day-to-day with an injury. ... Abramo Canka was ill and missed the game.

THEY GOT RUSSELL

The fans chanted “We want Russell!” multiple times in the second half, signaling to UCLA coach Mick Cronin to put in Russell Stong. They got their wish when the fifth-year senior entered with two minutes left. It was his eighth appearance of the season and only his second since Dec. 14. He made one of two free throws, earning wild cheers for the first and an anguished groan for the miss.

UP NEXT

California: Hosts Washington on Thursday.

UCLA: Plays at Utah on Thursday in its final Pac-12 road trip of the season.

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