Rutgers Starts Strong, But UCLA Pulls Away Behind Booker’s Career Night
After a gutsy but ultimately unsuccessful comeback effort against USC, Rutgers men’s basketball made the short trip across Los Angeles to take on UCLA at Pauley Pavilion. What started as a back-and-forth battle quickly shifted into a showcase for the Bruins, who rode a scorching second half and a career night from Xavier Booker to a 98-66 win over the Scarlet Knights.
Kaden Powers Comes Out Firing
Rutgers got an early spark from Kaden Powers, who put up the Knights’ first four points and didn’t stop there. The Seattle native was locked in from the jump, mixing in midrange jumpers, a deep three, and some tough finishes to rack up 18 first-half points - a new career high - in just 17 minutes of action. His scoring flurry kept Rutgers within striking distance early, even as UCLA’s shooters came out hot.
Tariq Francis added to the momentum with a pair of smooth three-pointers, and Harun Zrno chipped in with a triple of his own. For a stretch, it looked like Rutgers was ready to trade punches with the Bruins. Every time UCLA made a run - including a 7-0 burst capped by an Eric Freeny three - the Knights had a response.
But the Bruins’ firepower was relentless.
UCLA Finds Its Rhythm
Despite Rutgers’ early fight, UCLA’s offense started to find its groove midway through the first half. Brandon Williams and Trent Perry got into the paint and made the most of their touches, while Donovan Dent facilitated with poise and precision.
Booker, though, was the story. The 6’11” big man showed the full range of his offensive toolkit - knocking down threes, scoring in the post, and running the floor with ease.
After Powers’ final three gave him 18 points with three minutes left in the first half, UCLA closed the frame on an 8-2 run to stretch their lead to 52-40 at the break. The Bruins were clicking, and Rutgers’ defense struggled to keep up.
Second Half: All Bruins
The second half opened with a blitz from UCLA. The Bruins scored 10 unanswered points before Rutgers even made a field goal, pushing the lead to 62-41 and putting the game firmly out of reach. Powers, who had been unstoppable in the first half, was forced into tougher looks as UCLA adjusted defensively.
Rutgers tried to shake things up with a line change, bringing in Francis, Zrno, Lino Mark, and Bryce Dortch. The fresh legs brought a brief spark - Dortch and Buchanan Jr. each found the bottom of the net, and Zrno hit another three - but the Bruins had an answer for everything.
Booker continued his breakout performance, knocking down his fourth three of the night and finishing with a near-perfect 10-for-11 shooting line. By the time the under-eight media timeout rolled around, UCLA had cracked 80 points and was in full control.
Trent Perry and Dailey Jr. added to the highlight reel, and as both teams emptied their benches late, the Bruins’ lead ballooned to 32 points at the final horn.
Final Numbers Tell the Story
Rutgers put up a respectable first-half fight but simply couldn’t sustain it. The Knights managed just 26 points after the break and finished the night shooting 44% from the field and 32% from deep. Powers led the way with 18 - all in the first half - while Francis added 12 and Mark chipped in 10 off the bench.
On the other side, UCLA was lights out. The Bruins shot 56% from the floor and a scorching 12-of-21 from beyond the arc.
Five players hit double digits, and they dominated the assist battle 25-13, turning crisp ball movement into high-percentage looks all night long. They also edged Rutgers on the glass, 35-30, and capitalized on second-chance opportunities to keep the pressure on.
What’s Next for Rutgers
The road doesn’t get any easier for the Scarlet Knights. They’ll return home to face #9 Nebraska on Saturday afternoon - a team looking to rebound after dropping two straight following a 20-0 start. Tip-off is set for noon on Big Ten Network.
For Rutgers, the key will be rediscovering the defensive edge that’s defined them in recent seasons and finding a way to carry early momentum into the second half. Powers’ breakout is a silver lining, and if the Knights can build on that, they’ll have a shot to bounce back in front of their home crowd.