Men’s Basketball Triumphs Over UCF in 75-71 NCAA Tournament Victory
UCLA’s 7-seed men’s basketball team edged No. 10 UCF, 75-71, in the NCAA Tournament first round. The game took place Friday at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The Bruins improved to 24-11. UCF finished 21-12.
Game recap
UCLA led 35-27 at halftime. The Bruins pushed the lead to 58-44 with 8:18 left.
UCF mounted a late rally. The Knights cut the margin to 70-62 with 50 seconds remaining. Two quick 3-pointers, including a Jordan Burks triple with 10 seconds left, made it 72-69.
Trent Perry sank three of four free throws in the final 30 seconds. UCLA’s cushion in the final two minutes never fell below three points. The Bruins made 13 of 18 free throws, all in the second half.
Turning points
- UCF opened 6-0 before UCLA answered with an 8-0 run.
- UCLA held a 14-point edge twice during the game.
- UCF’s late 3s nearly erased the lead, but free throws sealed the win.
Player performances and stats
Eric Dailey Jr. led UCLA with 20 points. He shot 8 of 17 from the floor.
Trent Perry added 15 points and five rebounds. Xavier Booker had 15 points, eight rebounds and four blocks.
Donovan Dent finished with 10 points, five assists and a season-high six steals. Senior forward Tyler Bilodeau did not play due to a right knee sprain.
| UCLA | Stat |
|---|---|
| Field goal% | 40.6% |
| 3-point | 6-for-21 (28.6%) |
| Free throws | 13-for-18 (all in 2nd half) |
| Rebounds | 41 (outrebounded 53-41) |
UCF leaders
- Jordan Burks — 22 points, 6-of-11 from three.
- Riley Kugel — 13 points, five rebounds.
- Jamichael Stillwell — 10 points, 13 rebounds.
Coach response
Head coach Mick Cronin said the staff expected pressure late. He praised the team’s practice work on breaking the press.
Cronin noted UCF had multiple comeback wins this season. The Bruins prepared for that threat and executed under finish-line pressure.
What’s next
UCLA advances to face No. 2-seed UConn on Sunday, March 22. The matchup is set for 5:45 p.m. PT at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The winner moves to the Sweet 16. The next opponent will be either No. 3 Michigan State or No. 6 Louisville in Washington, D.C.
This report is for Filmogaz.com. In NCAA Tournament play, UCLA men’s basketball triumphed over UCF by the 75-71 margin for a hard-fought victory.
