UCLA advances to the Pac-12 Semifinals after beating Colorado 80-69

UCLA Bruins #5 Amari Bailey (G) pushing the ball upcourt against the Colorado Buffaloes’ defense at the T-Mobile Arena. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

LAS VEGAS, NV - The UCLA Bruins had to battle it out with an 80-69 win over the Colorado Buffaloes in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Tournament at the T-Mobile Arena.

The Buffaloes did a great job on the Bruins' defense of spreading them out on the court, but the turnovers they committed killed any hopes of coming from behind to win.

"They spread us out," UCLA coach Mick Cronin said. "I think a smart strategy, as good as we are defensively, is to try to spread us out as much as you can. Don't let us put you in small spaces and tight gaps."

Colorado took a 6-0 lead with three-pointers by Julian Hammond III and Tristan da Silva. UCLA trail 8-5 with a free throw by Amen Bona. The Buffaloes led 10-5 after a jump shot in the paint by Lawson Lovering.

Mac Etienne's layup had the Bruins trailing 10-7. UCLA trailed by The Bruins would lead 13-11 after a three-pointer by Bailey. Colorado regained the lead 14-13 with a three-pointer by Jalen Gabbidon with 11:46 left in the first half.

Bailey would knock down another three-pointer, and UCLA now led 19-16. Colorado would take a 24-23 lead with a jump shot by Ethan Wright.

Colorado Buffaloes #23 Tristan Da Silva (F) being defended by UCLA Bruins #24 Jamie Jaquez Jr. (F) at the T-Mobile Arena. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

Colorado would lead 26-25 with a driving layup by Hammond. David Singleton's three-pointer had UCLA leading 28-26. The Buffaloes would tie the game 28-28 with two free throws by Wright.

Jamie Jaquez Jr. made a fall-away jump shot in the paint to give the Bruins a 32-28 lead with 6:03 left in the first half. Da Silva's fall-away jump shot had the Buffaloes down 34-32. Tyger Cambell's layup had UCLA leading 36-32.

Colorado would regain the lead 38-36 with a three-pointer by Wright. Colorado led at halftime 38-37, with Wright leading them in scoring with 10 points and Gabbidon with 8 points. Bailey led UCLA in scoring with 12 points, Bona with 8 points, and Campbell with 7 points.

Luke O'Brien's jump shot gave Colorado a 40-39 lead during the second half. Colorado led 42-39 with his jump shot in the paint. Campbell would tie the game 42-42 with his three-point shot. Bailey would pull up for a jump shot giving UCLA a 46-44 lead.

The Buffaloes would tie the game 46-46 with two free throws by Lovering. Colorado went up 49-46 with a three-pointer by Hammond III.

UCLA would trail 49-48 with two free throws by Jaquez Jr. Bona slashed to the basket for a layup to give the Bruins a 50-49 lead.

UCLA Bruins #24 Jamie Jaquez Jr. (F) driving to the basket from the right side of the court at the T-Mobile Arena. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

Bailey's layup would push UCLA's lead up to 52-49 with 11:14 left in the game. Singleton would make a three-pointer to give UCLA a 55-49 lead. Da Silva would slash to the basket for a layup, and Colorado now trailed 57-53.

Colorado trailed by one point, 59-58, with a three-pointer by Da Silva with 7:17 left in the game. Bona would make one free throw to give UCLA a 60-58 lead. Da Silva's three-pointer gave Colorado a 61-60 lead.

Bailey would make two more free throws to increase UCLA's lead to 69-61. Lovering would drive to the basket for a layup, and Colorado now trailed 69-65.

Jaquez Jr. was fouled on his made layup and made his free throw to give UCLA a 73-65 lead. Campbell made two free throws making the score 77-65.

Colorado Buffaloes #1 Julian Hammond III (G) driving to the basket from the top of the three-point line at the T-Mobile Arena. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.

With 54 seconds left in the game, one of the basketball officials ejected Colorado's head coach Tad Boyle, and UCLA closed out the game with Campbell making two technical free throws and two more free throws after being fouled by Colorado, moved on to the semifinals after winning 80-69.

Bailey led UCLA in scoring with 26 points, Campbell with 18 points, Jaquez Jr. with 16 points, and Bona with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Da Silva led Colorado in scoring with 17 points, Hammond III with 14 points, Gabbidon with 12 points, and Wright with 10 points. UCLA committed nine turnovers compared to Colorado's fifteen turnovers.