Short-Handed Bruins Fall to Purdue, 73-66, in Big Ten Semis
UCLA was already playing without Tyler Bilodeau when Donovan Dent went down with an injury.
Winning this game was going to be a heavy lift for UCLA before the game began because Tyler Bilodeau was not going to play, but it seemingly got worse when Donovan Dent left the game with 9:46 to go in the first half. Dent, who apparently injured a calf, never returned to the game.
Despite being without their best two players for most of this game, these Bruins put up a heck of a fight.
After UCLA scored the first basket of the game on a jumper by Skyy Clark, Purdue went on a 15-0 run, which could have given the Bruins a reason to throw in the towel. Much to this team’s credit, they didn’t quit.
Instead, UCLA bounced right back with a 15-2 run of their own to tie the game 17-17 with 7:06 left in the half. Over the next five and a half minutes, Purdue reclaimed the lead and pushed it to nine points, 31-22, with 90 seconds left. In the time remaining, Trent Perry’s jumper in the paint and a three from Eric Freeney cut that lead back to just four, 31-27. A buzzer-beating three by Purdue’s Jack Benter would close out the half and give the Boilermakers a seven-point lead going into the locker room.
So, the Bruins found themselves in catch-up mode for most of the second half. At times, Purdue stretched their lead out some, getting it as high as 13 points again, but UCLA wasn’t about to fold.
Finally, with 4:33 to go, Trent Perry hit a game-tying jumper, evening the score at 60 points each, and Brandon Williams would tie the game again less than a minute later.
Unfortunately, a 6-0 run sealed the Bruins fate as Purdue took a 68-62 lead. A pair of free throws by Perry with 32 seconds left cut the Boilermaker lead to four, 70-66. Those free throws were the final points UCLA would score in this game while Purdue went on to score on three of four free throws in the final 30 seconds to help the Boilermakers advance to the Big Ten Tournament Championship game against Michigan tomorrow at 11:30 am PT.
Perry led the Bruins with 15 points in the game while Xavier Booker scored 12. Eric Dailey, Jr.’s 11 points and 10 rebounds earned him a double-double for the game. Skyy Clark’s ten points made him the fourth Bruin starter to finish in double figures. The only starter not in double figures was Donovan Dent who left early with the injury and only scored two.
Now, the Bruins head home and find out where they will play in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully, both Dent and Bilodeau will be able to play next weekend.
Go Bruins!
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Hard loss. That said, this is the type of competitive spirit I’ve wanted to see from the Bruins all season. They fought! While losing is never good, I’m high fiving them. Way to compete!
Idk how much UCLA would prefer seeding compared to being closer to campus. In one mock bracket, they had UCLA as an 8 seed playing in San Diego. Then another two brackets as. 7 seed playing in St Louis and another one playing in Tampa if I’m not mistaken .