UCLA Bruins Hold On to Defeat Indiana, 72-68
The Bruins got a pair of late free throws by Dylan Andrews to seal the win.
The UCLA Bruins came out a little slow out of the gate tonight and, then, they almost ran out of gas at the end of the game.
Indiana scored the first two points of the game on a pair of free throws by Oumar Ballo. On UCLA’s first possession, Tyler Bilodeau hit a three-pointer to briefly put the Bruins ahead, 3-2, but the Hoosiers recaptured the lead on the ensuing possession when Mackenzie Mgbako hit a jumper.
The Hoosiers held onto their lead for the next five minutes and twenty-three seconds until Skyy Clark nailed a three, which gave the Bruins a 12-10 lead. From that point forward, UCLA never relinquished the lead, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t get very close.
Over the next six minutes of the first half, the Bruins stretched their lead to double digits. With 7:40 to go, Dylan Andrews went to the line to shoot two after being fouled by Anthony Leal. He missed the first shot, but made the second to give UCLA a ten-point lead, 25-15.
On the Bruins’ next possession, a dunk by Aday Mara put the Bruins up by 12 for their biggest lead of the game at the time. It would turn out to be their biggest lead of the night as well and they would lead by that many on two more times in the first half.
With 40 seconds remaining in the half and UCLA up 35-23, Indiana’s Trey Galloway scored what proved to be the last basket of the first half and the teams went into the locker room with the score 35-25, UCLA.
After the break, Mgbako hit the first basket of the second half from long-range to cut the Bruin lead down to seven, 35-28.
After the teams traded a pair of jumpers, Clark also hit a three to push UCLA’s lead back to ten, 40-30, with 18:31 to go.
Over the next twelve-plus minutes, the teams went back and forth, the Bruins still led by ten, 65-55. That was the last point where UCLA would lead by double digits.
Indiana chipped away at the lead for the next 5:23 and, with 53 seconds left, the Bruins’ lead had been cut to just three, 70-67, following a layup by Malik Reneau who was fouled on the play by UCLA’s Trent Perry. Reneau made the free throw as well, making it 70-68.
Fortunately for the Bruins, Indiana missed their next three shots, which could have either tied the game or even put the Hoosiers ahead for the first time since very early in the first half.
After the third missed shot by Indiana, Dylan Andrews was fouled with 4.2 seconds left, sending him to the line. Andrews made both shots to put the Bruins ahead by four, 72-68, and sealing UCLA’s first win of the season East of the Rockies.
Luke Goode led all scorers with 16 points for the Hoosiers and Mgbako and Reneau each added 14. Meanwhile, Tyler Bilodeau led UCLA with 12 points and Skyy Clark put up 11. Kobe Johnson was also in double figures with 10 points.
The Bruins return home for games next week against Minnesota on Tuesday and Ohio State the following Sunday.
Go Bruins!!!
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8-1 in the last 9 games and first win east of the Mississippi. Bruins have life yet…
Consider - Mara went for 8 pts and 5 boards in 13 minutes... Ballo had 9 pts and 5 boards in 26 minutes... who would have imagined that watching them a year ago?