Rutgers Overwhelmed by UCLA in Road Loss, Despite Career Night from Kaden Powers
LOS ANGELES - Rutgers came out swinging at Pauley Pavilion on Monday night, but UCLA had more firepower - and plenty of it. The Scarlet Knights hung tough early, but the Bruins’ depth, perimeter shooting, and second-half surge proved too much, handing Rutgers a 98-66 loss on the road.
The night started with promise. Kaden Powers got Rutgers on the board first with a smooth pull-up jumper, and for a few minutes, it looked like the Scarlet Knights were ready to trade blows with the Bruins.
Rutgers shot the ball well in the opening half - 53.3% from the field and an even 50% from deep. But it was UCLA’s ability to string together runs and punish defensive lapses that began to tilt the game.
Powers was the bright spot for Rutgers, putting together a career-high 18 points in the first half alone. He was nearly automatic, hitting seven of his eight shots, including three from beyond the arc. It was the kind of performance that shows just how dangerous he can be when he finds his rhythm early.
Tariq Francis added some spark off the bench, chipping in 12 points and knocking down a couple of timely shots to keep Rutgers within striking distance. Darren Buchanan Jr. gave the Knights some muscle inside, contributing points in the paint and battling on the boards.
But UCLA closed the first half on a strong run, turning a tight game into a 52-40 halftime lead. And after the break, the Bruins stepped on the gas.
UCLA opened the second half with a 7-0 burst and never looked back. The Bruins shot 54.8% in the final period and buried six more threes, stretching the lead to as many as 36.
Their ball movement was crisp, their spacing was clean, and Rutgers simply couldn’t keep up defensively. UCLA finished with 25 assists - a testament to how well they shared the ball and exploited mismatches.
Rutgers tried to claw back, showing fight on the offensive glass and getting contributions from the bench. But the shots stopped falling from the outside. After a hot start, the Scarlet Knights went just 1-of-10 from three in the second half, and that cold stretch sealed their fate.
Powers finished with a team-high 18 points, while Francis added 12 and Lino Mark contributed 10. Buchanan Jr. ended the night with nine points and four rebounds. Rutgers was edged out on the boards, 35-30, and struggled to contain UCLA’s offensive rhythm.
With the loss, Rutgers drops to 9-14 overall and 2-10 in Big Ten play. The road trip continues later this week before the Scarlet Knights return home to face Nebraska on Saturday at noon, a game that offers a chance to regroup and reset in front of their home crowd.