LAS VEGAS — They could feel it on the way to the timeout huddle in the final minutes, Johnny Juzang high-fiving Peyton Watson and Jules Bernard clapping like he never wanted to stop.
After matching its latest lockdown defensive effort with some efficient offense, UCLA just needed a closeout special against USC in a Pac-12 Conference tournament semifinal late Friday night.
Bruins guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. provided more certainty, driving for a layup that had his teammates standing in celebration on the bench.