Stanford beats UCLA for 1st win at Pauley in 15 years
LOS ANGELES — Playing in Pauley Pavilion for the first time, Tyrell Terry thought of Russell Westbrook and Lonzo Ball.
Then the Stanford freshman went out and made his own memories with a career-high 24 points, helping Pac-12-leading Stanford to a 74-59 victory over UCLA on Wednesday night for the Cardinal’s first win on the Bruins’ floor since 2004-05.
“This is a very tough place to play,” Terry said, citing former UCLA stars Westbrook and Ball. “We just kept fighting. We really came out in the second half and just fought.”
Stanford (15-2, 4-0 Pac-12) has won three in a row and eight of nine. The Cardinal is the only undefeated team in league play and is off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 2003-04.
“The guys have really grown up,” Cardinal coach Jerod Haase said. “I’ve been here 3 1/2 years saying the same message.”
Fellow freshman Spencer Jones added 14 points for Stanford, which was playing its first Pac-12 road game of the season.
Oscar da Silva was held to six points with four fouls. He came in averaging a team-high 16.5.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 15 points and Jalen Hill added 14 with 12 rebounds for the Bruins (8-9, 1-3), who are mired in their second three-game skid of the season. They had won 13 straight home games against the Cardinal dating to 2005-06.
“These losses are getting tiring,” Jaquez Jr. said. “That’s been the trend for the last three games, coming out strong and then in the second half not being
there mentally.”
UCLA closed within one early in the second half on a layup by Jaquez. But the Bruins got no closer.
“It’s tough right now,” Hill said. “We just got to dig down deep inside and find something.”
Stanford launched a 12-2 run, including seven in a row, to go up 50-39. Hill’s offensive foul gave the ball back to the Cardinal and UCLA coach Mick Cronin was left shaking his head and smiling.
Cronin was about 20 minutes late to his post-game news conference, saying, “I was highly upset in the locker room.”
He proceeded to rip his team to reporters without ever raising his voice.
“As the game goes on our softness shows up. Our selfishness at times is evident on the offensive end,” Cronin said. “We have guys that just refuse to listen and follow orders, so they don’t get to play. I had to keep playing certain guys that I don’t think deserve to play.”
In an effort to inspire his players, Cronin was called for a technical late in the game that led to two free throws by Terry. The Cardinal freshman scored 13 straight points, including a 3-pointer that beat the shot clock and extended Stanford’s lead to 71-52.
“It’s not like I want to get a technical foul, but the problem with me is I’m a fighter, I’m a competitor,” Cronin said. “Try to show your guys you got to compete.”