Tyger Campbell, UCLA fend off Akron in NCAA Tournament opener

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  • UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., right, blocks a shot by Akron forward Mikal Dawson, left, during the first half of their NCAA Tournament first-round game on Thursday night in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24) shoots as Akron guard Garvin Clarke (11) looks on during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • Akron forward Ali Ali, center, goes for a dunk as UCLA forward Cody Riley, left, and UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. defend during the first half of their NCAA Tournament first-round game on Thursday night in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA guard Johnny Juzang (3) drives around Akron forward Mikal Dawson, left, during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • Akron forward Ali Ali (24) and UCLA forward Cody Riley, center, scramble for a loose ball during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • Akron guard Garvin Clarke (11) drives with the ball during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against UCLA, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) drives around Akron’s Michael Wynn (0) during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) drives around Akron’s Michael Wynn (0) during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • Akron’s Michael Wynn (0) and UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., right, dive for a loose ball during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA guard Johnny Juzang (3) tries to block a shot by Akron guard Greg Tribble (2) during the second half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. UCLA won 57-53. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA guard Jules Bernard works against the defense of Akron guard Xavier Castaneda , left, during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • Akron guard Xavier Castaneda (13) tries to get past UCLA forward Cody Riley (2) during the second half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. UCLA won 57-53. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA guard Tyger Campbell, left, passes around Akron guard Garvin Clarke, right, and forward Enrique Freeman (25) during the second half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • Akron guard Xavier Castaneda (13) shoots against UCLA during the second half of a first-round NCAA men’s college basketball tournament game Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. reaches for the ball during the second half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against Akron, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • Akron guard Greg Tribble (2) shoots as UCLA guard Johnny Juzang, left, defends, during the second half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA guard Johnny Juzang (3) drives against Akron forward Ali Ali (24) during the second half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • Akron guard Greg Tribble (2) sits on the court after goin down during the second half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against UCLA, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA guard Peyton Watson (23) puts up a shot against Akron forward Mikal Dawson (22) during the second half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • Akron guard Xavier Castaneda (13) leaps to put up a shot as UCLA forward Cody Riley (2) and UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24) look on during the second half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • Akron forward Enrique Freeman (25) is guarded by UCLA forward Cody Riley, left, during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA guard guard Tyger Campbell (10) reacts with guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24) during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against Akron, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • Akron forward Ali Ali, left, shoots over UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., right, during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA forward Cody Riley upper left, blocks a shot by Akron guard Garvin Clarke (11) during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • Akron head coach John Groce looks up from the bench during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against UCLA, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) looks to pass against Akron during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA guard Johnny Juzang, center, takes off with the ball away from Akron forward Mikal Dawson, right, during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA head coach Mick Cronin calls to his team during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against Akron, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. (24) puts up a shot against Akron during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez Jr., right, blocks a shot by Akron forward Mikal Dawson, left, during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA guard Jules Bernard drives with the ball as Akron center Aziz Bandaogo and UCLA center Myles Johnson pursue during the first half of their NCAA Tournament first-round game on Thursday night in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) shoots against Akron during the first half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA guard Tyger Campbell (10) shoots a three-pointer against Akron during the second half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA players, including guard Tyger Campbell (10) celebrate they beat Akron in a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. UCLA won 57-53. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • UCLA players, including guard Tyger Campbell, second from right, and guard Johnny Juzang (3) celebrate as Akron’s Michael Wynn (0) walks off the court after a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. UCLA won 57-53. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

  • Akron’s Michael Wynn (0) walks on the court late in the second half of a first-round NCAA college basketball tournament game against UCLA, Thursday, March 17, 2022, in Portland, Ore. UCLA won 57-53. (AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer)

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PORTLAND, Ore. — As UCLA was taking the floor for warmups on Thursday night, the crowd’s focus was toward the ceiling of the arena. All eyes were on the jumbotron broadcasting No. 2 seed Kentucky’s overtime loss to No. 15 Saint Peter’s halfway across the country.

The 15,000 people on hand at the Moda Center cheered when Saint Peter’s had officially won. The epitome of what makes March Madness so fun had unfolded in front of their eyes, but it was virtual.

Perhaps, it was an omen. The crowd nearly got to witness an in-person upset of another of college basketball’s blue-blood programs.

But thanks to Tyger Campbell, fourth-seeded UCLA rallied for a 57-53 victory over 13th-seeded Akron in its NCAA Tournament opener.

“That’s March for you right there,” said UCLA forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., who acknowledged the Kentucky-Saint Peter’s game. “It happens every year, teams get upset. And we were watching that game thinking to ourselves: That can’t be us tonight.”

Campbell reeled off eight straight points, including two 3-pointers in the final three minutes, scoring half of his team-high 16 points during a 15-4 closing run that gave the Bruins (26-7) the lead and advanced them to a second-round matchup with fifth-seeded St. Mary’s (26-7) on Saturday at 4:10 p.m. (TBS).

“My teammates just kept finding me, and I just was wanting to make a play,” Campbell said. “I knew down the stretch, Coach (Mick Cronin) made some adjustments, and I just wanted to execute on them, and the shots went in.”

Campbell’s first 3-pointer from the corner brought UCLA to within 51-50 with 2:26 left, then he added a mid-range jumper and a 25-foot 3-pointer as the shot clock was expiring that gave the Bruins a 55-51 lead with 1:17 remaining.

Even with Campbell’s streak, the Bruins still had to sweat the final moments after a missed free throw and Jaquez missing a jumper with 15 seconds left. Akron’s Ali Ali drove to the basket for a potential game-tying opportunity, but he didn’t have a clean look and Cody Riley blocked the shot before Johnny Juzang corralled the rebound and was fouled.

Juzang’s two free throws with two seconds left iced the victory.

“I told (Akron’s coach John Groce) after the game they were probably the most well-coached, best defensive team we’ve played all year,” Cronin said. “Their point guard was so tough, all their guys were so tough, the smallest guys on our post guys, and we couldn’t get the ball inside. It’s just a credit to the coaching staff at Akron, their kids, their toughness.”

Campbell finished 6 for 12 from the field (3 for 6 from behind the arc) with five assists. Jaquez had 15 points, nine rebounds and six assists and held leading scorer Ali (14.2 ppg) to just five points on 2-for-10 shooting. Jules Bernard added 10 points for the Bruins.

UCLA trailed 47-39 with 7:53 left. As big as Campbell shot’s were, Cronin thought Bernard’s 3-pointer coming out of a timeout deserved praise.

“I would like to add that the biggest shot of the game was Jules’ three in the corner. … We were struggling,” Cronin said. “That was a big-time shot. There was no coaching involved in that. That’s just gym time and this guy that’s been doing big things for us for three years since I’ve been here. That was a big, big-time shot.”

Bernard credited last year’s Final Four run for the Bruins’ composure.

“We didn’t panic. We’ve been in those positions before last year in the tournament, also throughout our season,” Bernard said. “So we know what that feeling is like, and we just try to stay composed as best as possible and know that our effort and toughness would pull us through.”

Cronin improved to 50-2 when his teams hold opponents under 60 points.

UCLA trailed 26-25 at halftime after shooting just 32% from the field (8 for 25), which was largely the result of a 3-for-13 start, with four turnovers, and an eventual scoring drought that lasted 5:52.

During that stretch, the Zips (24-10) built an 18-10 lead. Eventually, a 3-pointer from Jaquez tied the score at 22-22 while Akron was going through a bad offensive stretch of its own, having not converted on any field goals for nearly five minutes.

Peyton Watson provided a spark for the Bruins in the heart of the second half with a 3-pointer from the top of the key that gave UCLA a 37-36 lead before Akron regained the advantage within seconds. But Watson’s efforts didn’t stop there. He was attacking the basket and diving for loose balls.

“I felt like he could be a good matchup defensively,” Cronin said of Watson. “We were trying to get stops, get us some length in the game. He knocked down a big shot. It was really impactful minutes. He didn’t get a rebound, but his effort to go get some, he infused energy into our team, which we needed.”

Watson’s minutes, though few, we’re inspiring. The traveling Bruin fans stood on their feet, clapped and cheered to try to help rally UCLA, but it didn’t appear as though it was going to be enough.

Down 49-42 with 5:58 left, things looked bleak, but the Bruins put together their 15-4 run highlighted by Campbell’s 8-0 solo stretch.

“This reminds me of my Big East days. You’re going to win a rock fight, you’ve got to put your hardhat on and you’ve got to take care of the ball, get some extra possessions,” Cronin said. “And the offensive rebounding was huge, and we didn’t turn it over. We were able to finally get some – hang in there and get some stops and get a few shots to go down.”

Castaneda led Akron with 18 points and Enrique Freeman added 14 before fouling out with 2:26 left on an illegal screen.

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