Philadelphia, PA — Mick Cronin kept the celebration simple after another March victory for the UCLA Bruins men’s basketball—raising an energy drink instead of anything stronger as he reflected on his team’s gritty performance.
The Bruins earned it.
Behind 20 points from Eric Dailey Jr. and a strong all-around effort from Xaiver Booker, UCLA held off the UCF Knights men’s basketball 75-71 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
Playing without leading scorer Tyler Bilodeau, who remains sidelined with a knee injury, UCLA leaned on its depth and resilience to advance. Booker finished with 15 points and eight rebounds, helping anchor the effort on both ends of the floor.
The Bruins appeared in control for stretches, but UCF refused to go away. Jordan Burks nearly carried the Knights to an upset, pouring in 22 points and knocking down six three-pointers. His late triple cut the deficit to three in the final seconds, briefly putting pressure on UCLA down the stretch.
Still, the Bruins answered every challenge. A key run sparked by Trent Perry helped create separation in the second half, and timely free-throw shooting sealed the win as UCLA closed out its seventh victory in nine games.
The Bruins also got a lift from Donovan Dent, who battled through a calf injury to contribute 10 points.
The game wasn’t without its unusual moments. UCF center John Bol accidentally tipped a rebound into his own basket, giving UCLA an unexpected boost. Later, Bruins guard Skyy Clark lost a tooth diving for a loose ball but stayed in the game and calmly knocked down a free throw in the closing moments.
On the opposite sideline, UCF head coach Johnny Dawkins returned to Philadelphia, where he once played in the NBA, adding a personal layer to the matchup despite the loss.
With the win, UCLA moves on to face the winner of the matchup between UConn Huskies men’s basketball and Furman Paladins men’s basketball, keeping its pursuit of another national title alive.
