UCLA Bruins Dig a First Half Hole; Lose to Iowa, 74-61
The Bruins were unable to complete their attempt at a second half comeback.
UCLA came out looking like this would be a very close game for the first five minutes anyway. With 15:13 to go in the half, Iowa’s Alvaro Folgueiras hit a three to give the Hawkeyes a 9-6 lead. Then, just over 30 seconds later, he hit another one and suddenly Iowa was up by six.
The first half only got worse from there.
Folgueiras hit another three with 12:10 left to give the Hawkeyes a 17-7 lead. Iowa continued to dominate the Bruins and when Bennett Stirtz hit a three with 2:38 to go, it gave the Hawkeyes a 36-14 lead.
The lone highlight for UCLA may have come as the half came to an end. Donovan Dent drove the lane with the clock running down. He took a shot with the clock at 0:01. The shot went in and he was fouled. He completed the three-point play by making the free throw and the Bruins had cut to gap to 18 as they trailed 40-22 at the break.
Iowa stretched their lead to 21 to start the second and the Bruins were trailing 45-24 just two and half minutes into the half.
Finally, UCLA started to show some signs of life as the Bruins went on a 10-0 run and cut the Hawkeye lead to 45-34 with Dent scoring six of the ten points during the run.
Following a pair of Iowa free throws, the Bruins started another run. This time, it was an 8-0 run that cut the lead to just five with the Hawkeyes up, 47-42, and 10:45 to go.
Tyler Bilodeau cut the lead to four with a pair of free throws with 4:57 left and UCLA trailed 57-53. Dent cut it to four again with a driving layup with 3:13 left, but that would be as close as the Bruins would get.
UCLA would get outscored 13-4 over the final three minutes and the Bruins fell to the Hawkeyes, 74-61.
Dent led the Bruins with 25 and Bilodeau added ten. No other Bruin scored more than seven. Bennett Stirtz led all scorers with 27 and three other Hawkeyes were in double figures for Iowa.
The Bruins’ next game is at Wisconsin on Tuesday, January 6. Tip-off is set for 6 pm PT and the game will be on Peacock.
Go Bruins.
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It was a great second half. Hope that Skyy is okay. There’s something missing with this team, but if it’s found I see a very high ceiling.
Disappointing to see the Bruins still hibernating to start the game and couldn't overcome both the Hawkeyes and SBTRs in the 2nd half. I think they're capable of doing it, but this team still hasn't shown that they can deliver a solid/convincing win against a quality (ranked) opponent. At least the Lady Bruins did their part in contributing to a perfect weekend.