In a thrilling first-round matchup at the NCAA Tournament, the No. 7-seed UCLA Bruins edged out the No. 10-seed UCF Knights, 75-71, at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. This victory propels UCLA further into the East Regional, showcasing their resilience and strategic prowess.
The Bruins, now 24-11 on the season, managed to fend off a late rally by UCF, who ended their campaign at 21-12. UCLA's lead, which was as large as 14 points with just over eight minutes remaining, proved to be just enough to withstand the Knights' late-game surge. With a halftime advantage of 35-27, the Bruins seemed in control, stretching their lead to 58-44 before UCF mounted their comeback.
The Knights, trailing 70-62 with only 50 seconds on the clock, made the Bruins sweat with a couple of clutch 3-pointers, including a crucial one from Jordan Burks with just 10 seconds left. However, UCLA's Trent Perry kept his cool at the charity stripe, hitting three of four free throws in the final moments to seal the win. The Bruins were sharp from the line in the second half, converting 13 of 18 attempts.
Coach Mick Cronin highlighted the team's preparation for UCF's relentless pressing game, noting that despite some tense moments, their practice paid off. "We worked all week on our press offense," Cronin explained.
"We knew it was coming. We started breaking the press and scoring."
UCLA's offensive efforts were spearheaded by Eric Dailey Jr., who dropped 20 points while shooting 8-for-17 from the field. Perry added 15 points and grabbed five rebounds, while Xavier Booker contributed a solid 15 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks. Donovan Dent was also instrumental, scoring 10 points and dishing out five assists, alongside a season-high six steals and five rebounds.
The Bruins played without senior forward Tyler Bilodeau, sidelined with a knee sprain, but managed to control the pace for most of the game. They shot 40.6 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from beyond the arc, while limiting UCF to 37.5 percent shooting. Despite being outrebounded 53-41, UCLA's defensive efforts were enough to secure the win.
UCF's standout performer was Burks, who led with 22 points, including six 3-pointers. Riley Kugel chipped in with 13 points and five rebounds, while Jamichael Stillwell dominated the boards with 13 rebounds and added 10 points.
The Bruins now set their sights on a second-round clash against No. 2-seed UConn, boasting a 30-5 record. This showdown is scheduled for Sunday, March 22, at 5:45 p.m.
PT (8:45 p.m. ET) in Philadelphia.
The winner will advance to the Sweet 16, where they'll face either No. 3-seed Michigan State or No. 6-seed Louisville in Washington, D.C. As the tournament heats up, UCLA looks to continue their journey with the same grit and determination they've shown so far.