UCLA got all it could handle from Northwestern, but the 2-seed Bruins made huge plays down the stretch to pull out a 68-63 win and make it back to the Sweet 16.

The defining sequence came with two minutes to play. Adem Bona missed a pair at the free throw line that would have put the Bruins up by two possessions. Northwestern came back down the floor instead looking to get within one or even tie the game. Chase Audige drove for a layup, but was met at the rim by Bona, who swatted his shot away and ignited a break for UCLA.

The ball found its way to David Singleton on the wing. At that point, the senior sharpshooter was 1-for-5 from the field and 0-for-4 from 3-point range.

He rose with the confidence of a guy who was 4-for-4 and buried a 3 to put the Bruins up six with 1:52 to play.

UCLA would have to close the game out, but the momentum swing from the block/triple was huge. UCLA was able to play the free throw game down the stretch. It got Tyger Campbell to the line, and he knocked down his shots to keep the Bruins in the clear.

Campbell went 0-for-7 from the field, but he finished with 11 points because he hit each and every shot he took from the foul line. Perfect from the stripe. Eleven straight makes. Six of them came in the final three minutes.

In the early going, though, it was UCLA’s other star paving the way. Jaime Jaquez Jr. was superb, finishing with a game-high 24 points to go with eight boards and four assists. He made 11 of his 19 shots and two of his four triples. He scored five points in the first four minutes, then had a personal 6-0 run later in the first half.

The Bruins led by 10 at the break, but Northwestern just never went away. The Wildcats somehow shot 37% from the field for the game — and just 39% in the second half — while making only six of their 22 triples and yet they just kept chipping away at the lead over the final 20 minutes.

UCLA’s offense grew cold as Northwestern outscored it 17-4 over a six-minute stretch to tie the game at 45-all with 11:26 to go.

UCLA hit back with six unanswered points only to see Northwestern knock in back-to-back jumpers to get back within a possession. The two sides traded buckets until Bona’s block late.

Amari Bailey added 14 points and six assists for the Bruins, who shot 50% from the field and finished with 17 assists on 22 made buckets.

Boo Buie had 18 points to lead Northwestern. Matthew Nicholson put in 17 points and nine boards while Audige added 16.

The Bruins will face either No. 3 Gonzaga or No. 6 TCU in the Sweet 16.