Trent Perry In Chicago Sparks UCLA Push Into Big Ten Tournament Semifinals
trent perry delivered key free throws late as UCLA held off Michigan State, 88-84, on Friday in Chicago to advance to the Big Ten tournament semifinals, where the Bruins will face No. 7 seed Purdue on Saturday.
UCLA Answers February Nadir With 88-84 Win
The victory marked a sharp turn from UCLA’s most recent meeting with Michigan State on the Bruins’ home court less than a month ago, when the game “was out of hand in minutes” and UCLA trailed by more than 30 at one point. UCLA coach Mick Cronin later described that loss bluntly: “They took us to the woodshed. ”
Friday’s game in Chicago looked nothing like that earlier result. UCLA shot 56% from the floor, posted a season-high 13 three-pointers, and withstood a second-half push from the Spartans to keep its tournament run alive.
trent perry Closes It Out After Late Foul
Michigan State’s comeback made the finish tense. The Spartans cut the lead to four with 2: 34 remaining, and later trimmed it to two when Kur Teng hit a three-pointer in the corner after UCLA’s Donovan Dent missed a free throw with 51 seconds left.
In the final moments, trent perry became central to the closing sequence at the line. After taking a hard foul to the head, Perry hit four free throws in the final 12 seconds. Earlier in the closing stretch, he also sank two free throws after Teng’s late three brought Michigan State within two.
Perry finished with 22 points as UCLA leaned on late execution to secure the semifinal berth.
Dent’s Surge and Bilodeau’s Injury Shape the Bruins’ Night
While Perry provided the late finishing touch, point guard Donovan Dent once again drove the Bruins’ attack. A night after producing the first triple-double in Big Ten tournament history in UCLA’s 72-59 win over Rutgers, Dent followed with 23 points, 12 assists and six rebounds against Michigan State. He also delivered a crucial steal late, stepping in front of a pass from Teng and converting two free throws, and later grabbed a fourth steal to help seal the outcome.
The win came despite UCLA losing its top shooter for most of the game. Tyler Bilodeau left late in the first half with a knee injury after falling under the basket clutching his right knee with 3: 33 remaining before halftime. UCLA continued to score efficiently without him, keeping its rhythm through a hot start and sustained perimeter shooting.
The Bruins’ early shot-making set the tone, including 10 makes on their first 15 attempts. Michigan State initially matched UCLA’s pace, but UCLA’s pressure on the perimeter helped force turnovers and disrupted the Spartans’ flow for much of the first half. The result was a performance UCLA now hopes can carry into Saturday’s semifinal against Purdue as the Bruins pursue a Big Ten tournament title.
