In a thrilling showdown at the United Center, the No. 6-seed UCLA Bruins fell to the No. 7-seed Purdue Boilermakers, 73-66, in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals. Despite a valiant effort, the Bruins couldn't quite overcome Purdue's late-game surge.
The Bruins, now 23-11 on the season, found themselves trailing 34-27 at halftime. However, they clawed back from a 13-point deficit in the second half, tying the game twice in the final five minutes. Purdue, with a 26-8 record, managed to pull ahead with three clutch baskets in the closing minutes.
UCLA had four players scoring in double figures. Trent Perry led the charge with 15 points and nine rebounds.
Xavier Booker added 12 points, while Eric Dailey Jr. notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Skyy Clark contributed 10 points and four steals.
Purdue's Oscar Cluff was a force to be reckoned with, posting 17 points and 14 rebounds. Fletcher Loyer chipped in 14 points and four assists, hitting 4 of 10 from beyond the arc, propelling the Boilermakers to the championship game against No. 1-seed Michigan.
The Bruins were missing senior Tyler Bilodeau due to a knee issue, and senior Donovan Dent, who left the game early with a calf strain. Both are expected to return for the NCAA Tournament.
Mick Cronin, UCLA's head coach, praised his team's resilience, saying, "Extremely proud of my team, down two great players, but we've got other great players. They came up with a valiant effort today - couldn't be more proud of them."
Down 58-48 after a Purdue 3-pointer, UCLA fought back with key plays from Booker and Perry. Clark's steal and fast-break layup brought them within four, and his 3-pointer cut the gap even further. Perry's jumper tied it at 60-60 with just over four minutes left, but Purdue responded with critical buckets to seal the win.
Perry was instrumental in the second half, scoring 10 of his 15 points and dishing out five assists, showcasing his leadership and determination. Despite the loss, the Bruins displayed heart and skill, setting the stage for their NCAA Tournament appearance.