North Carolina vs. UCLA score: Tar Heels end losing skid in Las Vegas by beating Bruins

UNC picked up a much needed victory on Saturday at the CBS Sports Classic

Consider the crisis averted for the Tar Heels. North Carolina kicked its four-game losing streak to the curb in Las Vegas on Saturday at the CBS Sports Classic, downing UCLA 74-64 in resounding fashion.

UCLA turned out to be the perfect get-right team for UNC, which was at risk of losing its fifth straight. The Bruins committed 23 turnovers, missed 17 of their 21 3-point attempts and struggled to make it a game after falling behind by double digits just before the first half's final buzzer.

For North Carolina, this was a much-needed win to avoid five-alarm panic in Chapel Hill -- and to stay in the hunt for an NCAA Tournament berth. It played like that was all at stake. Without leading scorer Cole Anthony, fellow freshman Armando Bacot scored a team-high 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Garrison Brooks and Brandon Robinson added 12 points each, while Anthony Harris provided a spark off the bench with 14.

UCLA was led by Jaime Jacquez Jr. and Jules Bernard, who scored 14 and 16 points, respectively. Jacquez did most of his damage in the first half before UNC nearly shut him out in the second, which opened the door for Bernard to take over with 12 of his 16 points coming in the second half.

With the loss, UCLA falls to 7-5 on the season with an 0-5 record against top-140 KenPom teams in coach Mick Cronin's debut season in Westwood. It faces Cal State Fullerton next Saturday before Pac-12 play starts against Washington. UNC's win gets it to 7-5 on the year and with just one game -- a home tilt next Monday against Yale -- separating it from ACC regular season play.

[Dec 21, 2019 at 3:51 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

This is kinda UNC's season thus far in a nutshell. (They eventually finished it, but still.)

[Dec 21, 2019 at 3:38 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

The offense has been bad. Both ways. But I like the way UCLA is moving the ball. Shots aren't falling but they're sharing and trying to get open looks. Playing Cronin's system.

[Dec 21, 2019 at 3:34 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

This is pretty neat.

[Dec 21, 2019 at 3:24 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

Not a ton of offense early for either team -- UNC and UCLA shooting a combined 1-of-6 from 3 -- but the defense has been solid. Five combined steals and two blocks seven minutes into action. Pace has been frenetic.

[Dec 21, 2019 at 3:14 pm ET · Kyle Boone]

Good start early for North Carolina. Up 6-2 and getting some quality early production frmo Leaky Black, Armando Bacot and Garrison Brooks. They'll all need to play well today.