Clark, No. 19 UCLA rout Denver 87-64 for 5th straight win

Updated Dec. 10, 2022 5:01 p.m. ET

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Jaylen Clark scored 24 points and No. 19 UCLA opened the second half with a 17-0 run on its way to an 87-64 rout of Denver on Saturday for the Bruins’ fifth straight victory.

Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 18 points on 9-of-11 shooting for the Bruins (8-2), who last week opened Pac-12 play with a pair of wins. Clark's points were one off his career high.

Clark dunked twice off his own steals to highlight the big run that put the game away. The Bruins stretched their nine-point halftime lead to a 61-35 advantage. Jaquez added six points in the spurt.

Denver (8-3) has six players who average double figures. Touko Tainamo scored 16 points as one of two starters in foul trouble.

Clark had a big hand in a 10-0 run later in the half. He combined with freshman Adem Bona to score all the points and extend UCLA's lead to 74-42. Clark opened with a 3-pointer before Bona's 3-point play. Clark then stole the ball and scored on a layup in which he got fouled. He didn't make the free throw, but Bona finished off the run with a basket.

UCLA's defense forced the Pioneers into a season-worst 24 turnovers.

The blowout allowed coach Mick Cronin to rest Jaquez and fellow senior Tyger Campbell over the game's final seven minutes. That gave precious minutes to freshman Dylan Andrews, who finished with a season-high 11 points.

BIG PICTURE

Denver: The Pioneers' only other defeats so far are two losses to Sacramento State, including one in overtime this week that snapped their six-game winning streak.

UCLA: The Bruins face another tough two-game test with East Coast games against No. 13 Maryland and No. 16 Kentucky next week. Their only two losses so far came against ranked Illinois and Baylor in November.

UP NEXT

Denver: Host Colorado Christian on Wednesday.

UCLA: At No. 13 Maryland on Wednesday in the first of back-to-back games against ranked opponents.

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