UCLA vs. UC Irvine recap: Bruins avoid upset with 80-79 overtime win

Larry Drew II made a layup with 17 seconds to play in overtime and the UCLA Bruins held on for a 80-79 win against UC Irvine on Tuesday.

The Bruins started the game with a 5-0 run, but UC Irvine came right back and took a 10-9 lead. UCLA went on another run, going up 27-15, but once again the Anteaters worked their way back into the game. UC Irvine cut UCLA's lead to two at 30-28 with a 13-3 run. The teams went back-and-forth for the rest of the half with UCLA leading 36-34 at halftime.

The teams traded baskets in the second half with neither team leading by more than four points. The Bruins appeared to be in trouble twice at the end of regulation. Leading by two, UC Irvine had the ball with 14 second to go, but a Kyle Anderson steal resulted in two Jordan Adams free throws. Adams made both to tie the game at 67-67. On the Anteaters next possession, Will Davis II drew a shooting foul with 2.3 seconds to play, but missed both free throws.

The game continued to go back-and-forth in overtime with Drew hitting the shot to put the Bruins up. UC Irvine's Michael Wilder drove to the basket and appeared to be fouled, but there was no call and the clock ran out sealing the victory for UCLA.

Adams led the Bruins with 26 points. He finished a perfect 16 of 16 from the free throw line. Wilder hit a number of big shots for the Anteaters and finished with 23 points. UCLA was able to avoid the upset in large part to an excellent night at the free throw line. The Bruins made 22 of 27 free throw attempts while UC Irvine shot just 11 of 21 from the line.