UCLA took advantage of its opportunity Saturday night, even if the one moment of opportunity was less than two seconds long.

Freshman guard Jaylen Clark was fouled while attempting to tip in an offensive rebound with the score tied, which sent him to the free-throw line with 1.4 seconds left. He missed the first and made the second to give UCLA an 80-79 Pac-12 victory over Arizona State on Saturday night at Pauley Pavilion.

UCLA’s only lead of the entire game was the final 1.4 seconds. Alonzo Verge Jr.’s half-court heave as time expired was off the mark. The final buzzer sounded and the celebration for UCLA coach Mick Cronin’s 400th career win began.

“The rebound was the key there,” Cronin said. “Jaylen (Clark) doesn’t sit around and watch. You’d think Tyger Campbell would make a wide-open 4-footer, but not Jaylen.”

Jaylen Clark (@jayl7en) gives the Bruins their first lead of the game at the foul line, with 1.4 seconds to go

: ESPN2
: https://t.co/cFZUFfzbmy#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/AP46zuQU7S

— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) February 21, 2021

Cody Riley got UCLA within 79-77 with 90 seconds left before Campbell knocked down two free throws to tie the score with 39.3 seconds left. Before the ensuing possession, Arizona State called a timeout. Cronin used a coaching stroke of genius and came out in a zone defense that stymied the Sun Devils.

“With (Arizona State’s) speed and quickness, I thought they’d drive the ball and jump into us and (the officials) were going to call a foul on us,” Cronin explained. “It was a tie game, I didn’t want to lose the game at the foul line.”

The one free throw gave the Bruins (16-5 overall, 12-3 Pac-12) a season sweep over the Sun Devils (7-11, 4-8), but it also gave them a share of first place in the Pac-12 standings with rival USC (18-4, 12-3) after Arizona (15-8, 9-8) topped the 17th-ranked Trojans 81-72 on Saturday afternoon. There are two weeks left in the regular season with UCLA scheduled to host the Trojans in the finale on March 6.

UCLA improved to 10-1 in games decided by five points or less, but Cronin said it was the first time he can remember winning a game after trailing for virtually all of it.

“There are a lot of ways to win. What I want them to learn is they should do what I want them to do,” he said. “I hope they also learned that once you get in the tournament games aren’t over until the end.”

Riley scored 11 of his team-high 17 points in the second half on a perfect shooting night, going 6 for 6 from the field and 5 for 5 from the free-throw line. Johnny Juzang scored 12, Campbell pitched in 10 points and six assists, and Jaime Jaquez Jr. tallied nine points and 10 rebounds.

UCLA finished the game on a 10-2 run over the final 3:57. The key was slowing down ASU senior point guard Remy Martin, who finished with 25 points but didn’t score in the final five minutes. UCLA was 19 for 23 from the line overall, including 13 for 15 in the second half.

“I think this is the best free throw team I’ve had in 18 years. The key was getting fouled,” Cronin said. “We were getting stops and having possessions that we did not waste.”

“It all comes down to heart at the end of the game,” Campbell said about the Bruins’ gutsy finish.

Clark wasn’t the only freshman to make an impact. The Bruins also got a lift from center Mac Etienne while Riley was in foul trouble. Etienne scored all nine of his points in the second half and grabbed six rebounds, two of which were offensive and resulted in two baskets.

“Mac was the reason we were able to win the game,” Cronin said. “We were able to gain ground with Cody (Riley) on the bench.”

Cronin’s 400th career win earned him the game ball from new UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond.

“My first year (at UCLA), I thought I was going to be the next coach (John) Wooden … then everyone graduated and I realized I’m far from Coach Wooden,” Cronin said chuckling. “Now, I’m just trying to make him and his family proud.”

CRONIN BY THE NUMBERS

Cronin is in his second year at UCLA and has a 35-17 record. He went 69-24 in three seasons at Murray State (2003-06) and 296-147 in 13 seasons at Cincinnati (2006-19). He is one of six current head coaches to have led his teams to the past nine NCAA Tournaments.

Congratulations to @CoachMickCronin on career victory No. 4⃣0⃣0⃣ #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/mqlUsDsQy8

— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) February 21, 2021

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