UCLA basketball: Bruins hold off Pennsylvania, 77-73

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UCLA used a series of mini-runs in the second half to pull away, then hung on for a much-needed victory Saturday, beating Pennsylvania of the Ivy League, 77-73, at Honda Center.

The Bruins (3-5) had spurts of 6-0 and 5-0 in the second half and withstood the shooting barrage from Tyler Bernardini, a senior guard for the Quakers (5-6), who led all scorers with a career-high 29 points.

Bernardini, from San Diego, drew Penn to within four points with a three-pointer that cut what had been a 14-point UCLA lead to 71-67 with under three minutes left.

Lazeric Jones responded with a floating jump shot in the lane to put UCLA up by six, and the Quakers couldn’t get closer than five until Rob Belcore’s three-pointer with about two seconds to play accounted for the game’s final points. A Bernardini three-point attempt rimmed out with about 20 seconds left and UCLA ahead, 75-70.

Jones led UCLA with 21 points.

-- Diane Pucin