The UCLA Bruins held a 22-point lead and were in cruise control, clinging to snap a three-game losing streak.
In an instance, the unthinkable happen and Pauley Pavilion was at a loss for words when watching what had just taken place. Utah’s Parker Van Dyke buried a heavily contested NBA range 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Utes it’s only lead of the game as the time expired.
Van Dykes fifth three-point basket of the game capped a 23-9 run in the final 2:45 of play and Utah went on to steal a 93-92 victory over UCLA on Saturday.
The Bruins led 69-47 with 12:10 to play before the wheels fell off completely, allowing the Utes to close the game on a 48-25 run.
“Maybe got a little tentative the last six, seven minutes of the game and last four, five minutes of the game we just couldn’t get a stop,” Bruins interim coach Murry Bartow said. “They made some incredible plays. We turned it over and missed a bunch of free throws.”
“It was 10, then eight. Before you could blink, they make a great, great shot to end the game.”
Timmy Allen scored 22 points, Sedrick Barefield added 19 points, and Riley Battin and Van Dyke had 18 and 15, respectively for the Utes (13-10, 7-4 Pac-12).
“It’s been a wild season,” UCLA guard Jaylen Hands said on the loss. “It hurt a lot.”
Hands scored a career-high 27 points for the Bruins (12-12, 5-6), including going a perfect 5 of 5 from the field in the first half with 12 points and five assists.
Kris Wilkes had 17 points, Jalen Hill chipped in with 12, while Cody Riley and Jules Bernard both added 11 points each.
UCLA freshman center Moses Brown was not in the starting lineup for the first time in 23 games this season due to being late to morning shootaround.
“I’m not going to put up with it,” Bartow said, only playing Brown 5.3 seconds on the final possession of the game. “He’s gotta learn to be on time.”
UCLA shot an impressive 58.5 percent from the field but missed eight free throws overall (22-30), especially in pivotal moments.
Seven of the Bruins eight missed free throws came in the final 6:56 of play.
Unfortunately, free throw wows have been nothing new for UCLA, as they came into the game being ranked No.343 in the nation at the line.
“We missed a few throws, I know I missed two,” added Wilkes.
Leading 89-85 after a Riley Dunk, the Utes responded with a huge 3-point basket by Both Gach with eight seconds left to get Utah within one, 89-88.
UCLA’s David Singleton made two free throws, followed by Barefield matching Singleton at the line, allowing the Bruins to hold a 91-90 lead with only five seconds remaining.
On the next possession, Singleton split a pair of free throws and gave the Utes the one chance they needed.
Barefield received the inbounds pass and dribbled straight into two UCLA defenders passing half court. However, trailing was Van Dyke, who caught the pass and got off an incredibly difficult degree of shot over the outstretched arms of Singleton and UCLA forward Chris Smith.
13,800 fans witnessed the shot they couldn’t believe that went in, as the ball ripped the bottom of the net, giving Utah the emphatical 93-92 victory over the Bruins.
UCLA looks to get back to winning when they travel to face the California Golden Bears (5-18, 0-11), who are the sole Pac-12 team without a victory in conference play.
Tipoff from Haas Pavilion is Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.
