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UCLA is in the top eight of the men’s basketball tournament for the first time since 2008 after defeating Alabama in a thrilling Sweet 16 game Sunday night, 88-78.
Jaime Jacquez Jr. and Jules Bernard led the Bruins with 17 points each. Johnny Juzang and Tyger Campbell each had 13 points in the game. David Singleton had 15 points off the bench. Jacquez added eight points, three assists and three steals in the game.
The No. 2 seeded Crimson Tide was not without a fight. Down three points with the end of time, Alabama big man Alex Reese ended up with the basketball and tied the game with a clutch three-point basket as time expired. in the regulations.
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But it was the relentless shots from UCLA’s No.11 that put the Bruins atop the extra period.
Alabama missed a handful of three runs in overtime, which hurt them down the home stretch. Alabama was also 11 for 25 from the free throw line.
Jahvon Quinerly led Alabama with 20 points. John Petty Jr. had 16 points.
UCLA nearly shot himself in the foot in the dying seconds of the second period. The Bruins had ample opportunity to foul before the three were pitched by Reese, but chose not to. The decision caught the attention of generals on Twitter.
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The Bruins are vying for a spot in the Final Four. The team last made the Final Four in 2008, losing to Memphis in that game 78-63. This UCLA Bruins team included future NBA stars Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Darren Collison and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.
The Bruins could have made the tournament last year after a 19-12 record, but the playoffs were called off due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Bruins hadn’t made the tournament since 2017 when Steve Alford led the team to a 31-5 record.
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UCLA entered the tournament as a top four team. They will be the second team in history to be part of the Elite Eight from this round. The first team was VCU and they made the Final Four in 2011.
UCLA will face Michigan in the Elite Eight regional final.
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