This time, a more mature UCLA team wins a tough tug-of-war game

The tug-of-war feel of this game seemed familiar to UCLA receiver Jordan Payton.

The Bruins’ struggle against Brigham Young in the Rose Bowl on Saturday felt a lot like the back-and-forth battle last season against Utah. But this time, UCLA came out on top, in a 24-23 victory.

“The whole thing reminded me of Utah,” Payton said. “We scored and Utah then marched down and scored again. I felt it had the same vibe.”

UCLA lost to a physical Utah team in a back-and-forth game, 30-28, last season. The team was placed in the same situation Saturday, but, Payton said, “We are more mature and we handled it way better.”

That was the take-away from the Bruins’ late night in the Arroyo Seco.

“Last year, I don’t think we win that game,” linebacker Deon Hollins said.

Maturity was the word kicked around post-game.

• UCLA’s Josh Rosen had a rough night, one that freshmen quarterbacks go through. He completed only 11 of 23 passes for 106 yards and had three passes intercepted.

But Rosen found moments. He threw a zip-line touchdown pass to Payton in the third quarter.

“There are some days where you have to make the plays, there are some days you just manage the game,” offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone said. “The second half was a great example of managing the game. Josh made good decisions and was not thinking that every throw he made had to win the game.”

• The UCLA defense was on its heels most of the night. Tanner Mangum, BYU’s 22-year old freshman quarterback, held the dice. The Cougars rolled up 405 yards.

But the Bruins found moments. UCLA stopped two BYU drives, forcing field goals, in the fourth quarter. Linebacker Myles Jack then suckered Mangum and intercepted a pass to clinch the victory with 58 seconds left.

“This shows what kind of team we are,” Jack said.

• The Bruins rolled up 296 yards rushing. Paul Perkins had 219 and scored a third-quarter touchdown. Nate Starks had 81, 60 coming on UCLA’s last touchdown drive. He scored on a three-yard with 2:13 left.

“I think [that game] deepens the confidence you have as a team, that you hang in there and keep believing and keep fighting,” Coach Jim Mora said. “It showed we have the capabilities regardless the circumstances.”

This could make it a defining moment as the No. 9 Bruins head into Pac-12 play.

“We can look back on this when we get into tough scenarios in conference,” Jack said. “I think we finally believe in who we are, and other people are starting to notice what we’re doing. For us, to win this game, close it out like we did, was beautiful.”

Savaiinaea shines

UCLA’s defense faced a watershed moment three minutes into the game. Linebacker Kenny Young, a fierce tackler who handles the defensive signals, was ejected for targeting Mangum on a tackle.

In stepped junior Isaako Savaiinaea.

“Coach has told us to always train like you’re a starter, that’s what I did,” Savaiinaea said. “I just needed my chance to get out there and show what I can do.”

He finished with 14 tackles, 10 of them solo. He also had 1.5 sacks. UCLA had a season-high four sacks.

“I told the guys Friday night that we would face some adversity,” defensive coordinator Tom Bradley said. “I just didn’t think it would happen that fast. You got to give credit to Isaako. That’s what you have to do in that situation.”

Rosen examination

Once again, Rosen was the focus of attention, only this time for the plays he didn’t make.

“It wasn’t my day,” Rosen said. “Actually, I almost came out happier this game than if I played well because I had to rely on the team. I played one of my worst games in my career, and we still beat a top-20 team.”

Quick hits

Cornerback Fabian Moreau left the game with a foot injury, but returned for the final series. …UCLA will play at No. 16 Arizona at 5 p.m. PDT on Saturday. The game will be televised on Channel 7.

chris.foster@latimes.com

Twitter: @cfosterlatimes