UCLA 75-71 UCF (Mar 20, 2026) Game Recap
PHILADELPHIA — — Mick Cronin raised a plastic cup to a different NCAA Tournament victory for UCLA with an power drink he introduced with him to the rostrum.
“I’m not Coach Pitino,” he stated.
The Bruins coach laughed in a nod to Rick Pitino of St. John’s and the postgame beer he sipped in celebration of profitable a convention match.
Cronin, although, will gladly take pleasure in one other spherical.
Eric Dailey Jr. scored 20 factors, Xaiver Booker had 15 factors and eight rebounds to make up for the absence of main scorer Tyler Biloudeau and seventh-seeded UCLA withstood each critical problem to beat Tenth-seeded UCF 75-71 on Friday evening.
“During the year, we have been in games where we have been down and come back,” Dailey stated. “All that was practical for this moment.”
The Bruins (24-11) — with guard Skyy Clarkminus a tooth — will play No. 2 seed UConn on Sunday.
Jordan Burke scored 22 factors and hit six 3-pointers — together with one which made it 72-69 with 10 seconds left — to virtually single-handedly carry UCF (21-12) into the second spherical.
Under the comical and flamable Croninthe Bruins are again within the second spherical for the second straight match after lacking out in 2024.
Cronin preached for his crew to hit the reset button after shedding within the Big Ten Tournament semifinals and skipping the NCAA choice present. With each alley-oop dunk the Bruins appeared rested and despatched the UCLA followers right into a frenzy.
For each run the Knights went on — most notably within the second half when Burks hit consecutive 3s that pulled them inside three factors and despatched “UCF!” chants rolling by the sector — the Bruins introduced them again to actuality.
Trent Perry hit back-to-back layups that sparked a 12-1 run for the Bruins and seemingly put a long way between them and the Knights.
But, Burks hit one other 3 that lower the deficit to 9 factors with 2:01 left within the recreation and he made a layup to make it 68-62.
The Bruins transformed their free throws and ran out the clock to win for the seventh time in 9 video games.
Bilodeau appeared on observe to play however remained sidelined due to a sprained knee suffered final week towards Michigan State within the Big Ten Tournament.
He averaged 17.6 factors and was an All-Big Ten third-team choice.
Cronin stated Bilodeau had a great follow a day earlier however awoke stiff. Cronin stated he made the choice to provide Bilodeau the sport off. Cronin stated the following standing replace would come forward of Sunday’s recreation.
Donovan Dent He performed by a calf damage suffered within the convention match and had 10 factors.
UCF 7-foot-2 heart John Bol by accident scored a basket for UCLA when the ball popped straight out of his arms when he jumped on a defensive rebound try.
The blooper bucket gave UCLA a 35-31 lead.
Clark misplaced a tooth late within the recreation when he dove for a unfastened ball and appeared to get elbowed within the face by a UCF defender. The tooth went flying and members of the UCLA employees scurried round to attempt to discover it.
UCLA walk-on Jack Seidler discovered the unfastened tooth.
Clark — who flashed a toothless grin within the locker room and stated he was at a few 9 on a 1-10 ache scale — hit the ultimate throw to safe the win.
“I had my adrenaline going so I really didn’t feel it,” he stated.
UCF coach Johnny Dawkins by no means performed a recreation contained in the 76ers’ present area — constructed after he retired in 1995 — however has loads of fond recollections of his time with the crew. He performed 5 seasons for the Sixers from 1989 to ’94.
“When I come to Philly, it’s always fondness for me. I love the city and what it represents,” Dawkins stated. “You come in here and have a chance to compete again, although not playing anymore, but with my team, it was special. I don’t know how many times you have a moment like that where you get a chance to come back to a city you’ve enjoyed for so long and have a chance, to come in and compete in NCAA Tournament.”
UCLA stays within the hunt for a twelfth nationwide championship.
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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and protection: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
