UCLA Falters in Second Half as No. 2 Michigan Dominates in Ann Arbor
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - For 20 minutes, UCLA looked like a team ready to punch above its weight. But in the second half, the Bruins unraveled-offensively, defensively, and emotionally-against a Michigan squad that continues to look every bit like a national title contender.
UCLA (17-8, 9-5) came into this one knowing the odds were stacked. Michigan (24-1, 14-1), ranked No. 2 in the country, has been steamrolling opponents all season, and the Wolverines were back home in front of a raucous crowd.
Still, the Bruins showed early signs of fight. They weathered an early Michigan burst and clawed back with a 7-0 run late in the first half, trimming what had been a double-digit deficit to just two points at the break, 40-38.
That would be as close as UCLA would get.
The second half was a different story entirely. Michigan opened with a 9-2 run that set the tone, and from there, the Wolverines never looked back.
UCLA’s offense, which had found some rhythm late in the first half, completely stalled. The Bruins managed just 18 points after the break, shooting a brutal 7-for-27 from the field and hitting only one of their 10 three-point attempts.
“We were awful in the second half. We were God awful,” UCLA head coach Mick Cronin said bluntly. “We missed eight unguarded threes… If you're gonna come in here and win, you’ve got to score.”
The shooting woes weren’t the result of suffocating defense or a new scheme from Michigan. The Bruins were getting looks-they just couldn’t convert. And as the offense sputtered, the defense collapsed right alongside it.
Michigan, on the other hand, played like a machine. Efficient, unselfish, and relentless.
The Wolverines shot a staggering 18-for-23 from the floor in the second half, including 4-for-6 from three. What made it more impressive-and more frustrating for UCLA-was that it wasn’t a single player taking over.
This was a full team effort. Every Wolverine except one scored at least two points after halftime, but none cracked double digits.
It was collective dominance.
“This is the worst second half defensive field goal percentage of my career,” Cronin said.
That stat tells the story. Michigan didn’t just win the second half-they overwhelmed it.
The Wolverines were comfortable, confident, and in control. UCLA, meanwhile, looked like a team that had run out of answers.
“You can’t have a team score 80 points in their home gym and feel that comfortable,” said sophomore guard Trent Perry. “There’s really nothing else to it. They beat us totally in the second half and we just laid down.”
And that’s the part that will stick with the Bruins. Not just the loss-it was always going to be a tall task to knock off Michigan in Ann Arbor-but the way it unfolded.
The lack of response when the Wolverines made their push. The missed shots that turned into missed assignments.
The energy that evaporated as the game slipped away.
For a program trying to prove it belongs in the national conversation, this was a harsh reminder of the gap that still exists between good and great. Michigan played like a team with championship aspirations. UCLA played like a team still searching for consistency.
There’s still time for the Bruins to regroup, but performances like this-especially in February-tend to linger.