The No. 13 UCLA Bruins did not fall into the trap. 

Following consecutive wins over ranked opponents, the Bruins faced the UC Davis Aggies, a team who scores over 80 points per game. With the high of those victories, they could have overlooked their foe. However, the Bruins did not, as their defense effectively shut down the Aggies’ high-powered offense en route to an 81-54 win.

They held them to 37.5% shooting from the field and 30% from beyond the three-point line. 

It was not all smooth sailing, though. 

Just a few days before Christmas, the Bruins may have been looking forward to their presents early. They struggled with turnovers and missed layups early on, taking 2:44 to score their first points. Then, the Aggies built a four-point lead. 

“It was going to be a hard game to get up for,” Jaylen Clark said. “And that’s no disrespect to [the Aggies], but I figured that’s just what people know. We got off to a slow start.”

The Bruins needed a spark. Despite Clark’s comments, he pushed them past the slug leading them on both ends of the floor.

He used his defensive instincts to step into passing lanes and grab steals. Using the takeaways, Clark generated transition opportunities for the Bruins to score. In the half-court offense, he used crafty moves to drive to the basket and converted on difficult shots.

Head coach Mick Cronin gave Clark credit for his off-ball presence.

“I believe in ‘What do you do when you don’t have the ball?’ Do you play or do you watch? Obviously, Jaylen Clark plays,” Cronin said.

Clark finished with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and two steals. 

Thanks to his efforts, the game was played at the Bruins’ desired slow pace, and they held the Aggies to 21 points at halftime. Clark’s strong performance in the first half seemed to inspire the rest of the team, as they exploded for 48 points in the second half.

Tyger Campbell and Jaime Jaquez led with a combined 19 points in the second half and 31 points game-wide. Jaquez grabbed eight rebounds, too.

Clark’s contributions also energized Adem Bona, who made exhilarating blocks and scored in the post. Bona ended with nine points (seven of which came in the second half), six rebounds, and two blocks. 

Next for the Bruins is a trip to Pullman, Washington, where they will face the Washington State Cougars. They will play the PAC-12 conference game on Dec. 30 at 8 p.m.