Utah Utes guard Lazar Stefanovic (20) drives on UCLA Bruins guard Jake Kyman (13) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Jay has covered sports in Utah for more than 30 years and has been writing for the Deseret News since 2019.
Snow fell hard outside the Huntsman Center on Thursday night, and the No. 9-ranked UCLA Bruins almost fell hard inside it. Emphasis on “almost.” The Runnin’ Utes threw a mighty scare into UCLA as nine-point underdogs, but came up just short, losing 63-58 in Salt Lake City to suffer their seventh-straight loss.
Here are 3 keys to UCLA’s five-point win:
• Johnny Juzang carried the Bruins, scoring 28 points on 9 of 13 shooting, and UCLA made the bigger plays down the stretch to escape Salt Lake City with a victory. The Utes missed a pair of open 3-pointers in the final 20 seconds that would have tied the score, and UCLA’s Jules Bernard sealed it with free throws with 1.5 seconds left.
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Utah Utes guard Both Gach (2) and UCLA Bruins guard Tyger Campbell (10) compete for the loose ball in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. UCLA won 63-58. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Craig Smith celebrates after a Ute defensive stand against UCLA in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes react at the end of the game with the UCLA Bruins in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. UCLA won 63-58. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Dusan Mahorcic (21) drives on UCLA Bruins guard Tyger Campbell (10) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Craig Smith shouts to his team near the end of the game in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. UCLA won 63-58. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Jaxon Brenchley (5) celebrates a driving basket and a foul by UCLA in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Dusan Mahorcic (21) and Utah Utes guard Jaxon Brenchley (5) try to grab a rebound in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Riley Battin (11) competes with UCLA Bruins center Myles Johnson (15) and UCLA Bruins guard Peyton Watson (23) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Eli Ballstaedt (13) defends UCLA Bruins guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Marco Anthony (10) shoots over UCLA Bruins guard Jules Bernard (1) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Dusan Mahorcic (21) competes for the rebound with UCLA Bruins guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard David Jenkins Jr. (1) drives on UCLA Bruins guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Both Gach (2) is fouled by UCLA Bruins forward Cody Riley (2) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Jaxon Brenchley (5) shoots a three-pointer in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Riley Battin (11) drives ob UCLA Bruins guard Jake Kyman (13) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Gabe Madsen (55) looks to pass on UCLA Bruins guard Peyton Watson (23) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Craig Smith shouts to his team in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Lazar Stefanovic (20) drives ob UCLA Bruins guard Jake Kyman (13) in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Lazar Stefanovic (20) celebrates a three-pointer near the end of the game in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. UCLA won 63-58. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes center Lahat Thioune (0) is surrounded by UCLA defenders in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. UCLA won 63-58. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes forward Dusan Mahorcic (21) reacts at the end of the game with the UCLA Bruins in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. UCLA won 63-58. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes guard Both Gach (2) and UCLA Bruins guard Tyger Campbell (10) compete for the loose ball in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. UCLA won 63-58. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
• Both Gach hit a 3-pointer with 5:23 left to give the Runnin’ Utes a 54-51 lead, but Utah went the next three possessions without scoring and UCLA surged ahead. Lazar Stefanovic’s triple with 2:13 left pulled the Utes within one, but Utah got only a single point on its next three possessions.
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• Stefanovic led Utah with 18 points, making four 3-pointers. The Utes finished with 11 3-pointers, as Gach and Gabe Madsen had two apiece.
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