UCLA Bruins Maul Penn State Nittany Lions, 78-54, For Seventh Straight Win

The Bruins turned the ball over just once in the first 33 minutes of the game and the defense helped make this an easy win.

Kobe Johnson scored 15 against Penn State this afternoon as the Bruin cruised past the Nittany Lions. (Photo Credit: Ross Turteltaub/uclabruins.com)

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I’m fond of saying that “the only thing which matters in college basketball are the last four minutes of the game.” Today’s UCLA game against the Penn State Nittany Lions was one of those games that is the exception which proves the rule.

In fact, when the Bruins took a 17-16 lead on a Tyler Bilodeau layup with 10:16 to go in the first half, the game was over.

Up to that point in the game, the largest lead by the Bruins had been just four points while the largest Penn State lead was only three, but Bilodeau’s shot was the start of a 10-0 UCLA run that soon saw the Bruins go up by nine points with 8:17 to go in the half.

For the remainder of the half, the closest Penn State would get would be six points down as UCLA played near-flawless basketball to close out the half.

The Bruins would not turn the ball over until Eric Dailey, Jr. lost a ball with 5:33 left when UCLA led 30-24.

For the rest of the first half, the Bruins managed to steadily increase their lead and they took a 13-point lead into the locker room as they led 44-31 at the break.

The first two minutes of the second half saw the Nittany Lions make their most serious run of the game as Penn State cut the lead down to just five, 44-39, after the Nittany Lions scored the first eight points of the second half.

Again, it was a Bilodeau layup that seemed to get the UCLA offense moving. It would be the start of an 11-0 Bruin run that eventually became a 19-2 run that gave UCLA a 22-point lead, 63-41, with 11:18 to go in the game.

The Bruins continued playing near-flawless basketball until Bilodeau lost the ball for just the second UCLA turnover of the game with 6:13 left. At the time, the Bruins led 70-49 and the game was essentially over as Penn State couldn’t muster enough offense to get any closer than 19 points twice in the remainder of the game.

Kobe Johnson led all scorers with 15 points and he added 13 rebounds as well as six assists. Skyy Clark and Sebastian Mack each put up 14 points while Bilodeau had eleven. Aday Mara, who has played so well as of late, only scored five.

Meanwhile, Zach Hicks was the only Penn State player to put up double figures with 14 points.

After piecing together a seven-game winning streak, UCLA should be ranked again come Monday as they head out on the road for games this week on Tuesday at Illinois, which will be their final game of the season on Peacock, and at Indiana on Friday night on Fox. Both games will tip off at 5:00 pm PT.


Go Bruins!!!