Donovan Dent In Chicago Triggers Big Ten Tournament First-Ever Triple-Double As UCLA Advances
donovan dent delivered a landmark performance Thursday night in Chicago, recording the first triple-double in Big Ten tournament history as UCLA beat Rutgers 72-59 to move on in the conference bracket.
Donovan Dent Makes Big Ten Tournament History in UCLA Win
UCLA guard Donovan Dent finished with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists in the Bruins’ victory. The result lifted UCLA to 22-10 and set up a Big Ten tournament quarterfinal against Michigan State on Friday night.
Dent, a 6-foot-2 senior guard who transferred from New Mexico last summer, said he only became aware of the triple-double late, around the under-four media timeout, when a teammate pointed out he was one rebound away. Dent said he began “hunting for it” down the stretch.
The triple-double was described as the fifth in UCLA history and the program’s first since 2013.
Second-Half Rebounding Surge Stands Out
While Dent entered the game averaging 13. 6 points and 2. 6 rebounds per game, his work on the glass against Rutgers was a defining part of the night. At halftime, UCLA coach Mick Cronin pressed his guards to attack the glass. Dent responded with four offensive rebounds in the second half.
Those four offensive boards came during a 14-2 run before the first media timeout of the half, helping UCLA seize control. Dent described a shift in approach after the break, saying the team “flipped our mindset in the second half, ” emphasizing crashing for offensive rebounds.
Assist-to-Turnover Stretch Highlights His Recent Form
Beyond the historic box score, Dent’s recent run as a facilitator has been central to UCLA’s momentum. Beginning with a 95-94 overtime win against Illinois, he has 65 assists to four turnovers across a six-game stretch, with at least 12 assists in three of those games. UCLA is 5-1 during that span.
On the season, Dent ranked third among Big Ten players in assists per game (7. 5) and fourth in steals (1. 6) entering the Rutgers game, while also earning honorable mention all-Big Ten recognition.
Cronin credited Dent for improving his ball security and adapting to expectations. After posting 108 turnovers last year at New Mexico, Dent has reduced that figure to 60 this season. Cronin framed the improvement as a product of changed habits and credited Dent for “signing on” to the process and getting better over time.
