BYU guard TJ Haws (30) splits through UCLA forward Jalen Hill (24) and forward Cody Riley (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, in Lahaina, Hawaii. Marco Garcia, AP
Jeff Call
By Jeff Call

PROVO — BYU senior guard TJ Haws asserted himself over the final 10 minutes of Monday night’s game against UCLA in the Maui Invitational.

And that was a very good thing for the Cougars, who cruised past the Bruins, 78-63, at the Lahaina Civic Center.

“I thought we just stayed aggressive and I think something we did really well was we trusted in our game plan.” — BYU guard TJ Haws

Going into the game, Haws was shooting just 38 percent from the field and 16 percent from 3-point range.

Against UCLA, Haws scored 10 of his 15 points over the final 10 minutes to help break the game open. 

“I thought we just stayed aggressive and I think something we did really well was we trusted in our game plan,” Haws said. “We knew that if we kept moving the ball, if we stayed aggressive, that we were going to get good looks. And for me, I’m just trying to shoot good shots and trying to stay aggressive. And if I can get to the basket, which I did a few times, that helps me get into a rhythm a little bit and that was great for me tonight.”

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The BYU bench reacts to the team scoring a 3-point play against UCLA during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia) | Marco Garcia, AP
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BYU guard TJ Haws (30) makes a pass while being guarded by UCLA guard Chris Smith (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia) | Marco Garcia, AP
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BYU head coach Mark Pope reacts on the sideline during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against UCLA, Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia) | Marco Garcia, AP
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BYU guard Jake Toolson (5) dribbles past UCLA guard Prince Ali (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia) | Marco Garcia, AP
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UCLA guard Prince Ali (23) chases down BYU guard Alex Barcello (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia) | Marco Garcia, AP
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BYU guard Jake Toolson (5) tries to get past UCLA guard Chris Smith (5) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia) | Marco Garcia, AP
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UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) gets past BYU guard Alex Barcello (4) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia) | Marco Garcia, AP
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UCLA forward Jalen Hill (24) shoots over BYU forward Dalton Nixon (33) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia) | Marco Garcia, AP
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BYU guard Jake Toolson (5) shoots over the UCLA defense during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia) | Marco Garcia, AP
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BYU forward Dalton Nixon (33) and guard Alex Barcello (4) defend UCLA forward Jalen Hill (24) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia) | Marco Garcia, AP
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BYU guard Zac Seljaas (2) grabs a rebound away from UCLA forward Jalen Hill (24) and guard Jules Bernard (3) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia) | Marco Garcia, AP
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UCLA guard Chris Smith (5) and BYU guard Zac Seljaas (2) fight for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia) | Marco Garcia, AP
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BYU guard TJ Haws (30) splits through UCLA forward Jalen Hill (24) and forward Cody Riley (2) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, Monday, Nov. 25, 2019, in Lahaina, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia) | Marco Garcia, AP
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Said Jake Toolson, who scored a game-high 20 points: “I think the way we played tonight, it was we set ourselves up to make plays for each other. And then down the stretch, especially TJ had the ball in his hands a lot and he was making plays for us and I feel like our mindset was to make a play for our teammate. And when you can live there, then things just come back around to you and you’re able to help this team win by whatever it is.”

Haws ended up making 5 of 11 shots from the field, including 2 of 4 from 3-point territory. 

UCLA coach Mick Cronin said BYU simply made the plays it needed to at the end.   

“I give BYU credit. We couldn’t get, we couldn’t finish the game,” Cronin said. “We’re a young team, still figuring out, finding our way. But they made it hard on us.”

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