UCLA men’s basketball snapped a four-game losing streak Friday with a resounding 94-70 victory over Iowa at Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins (12-6, 3-4 Big Ten) delivered their highest-scoring first half since 2016, tallying 57 points while holding the Hawkeyes (12-6, 3-4) to 24.
Sophomore guard/forward Eric Dailey Jr. led the charge with a season-high 23 points on 66.7% shooting, his fourth double-digit outing in five games. Junior forward Tyler Bilodeau and junior guard Dylan Andrews also stepped up. Bilodeau, UCLA’s leading scorer, bounced back from a tough stretch with 18 points and three rebounds on 8-for-10 shooting. Andrews broke a month-long slump with 13 points and three assists on 55.6% shooting.
UCLA’s defense returned to form, stifling Iowa’s potent offense. The Hawkeyes, who entered shooting 51% from the field and 39.8% from three-point range, were limited to 44.7% and 37.5%, respectively. Key Iowa scorers Payton Sandfort and Owen Freeman were held to a combined 13 points.
Coach Mick Cronin praised junior forward William Kyle III, who scored a season-high 12 points in 27 minutes. The Bruins also dominated the glass, out-rebounding Iowa by 10 after struggling in that area in recent games.
With newfound confidence and momentum, the Bruins aim to build on their performance Tuesday against Wisconsin. The game marks the return of UCLA students to in-person instruction following a week of remote learning due to Los Angeles County fires.
Photo courtesy of Jan Kim Lim, UCLA Athletics
Photo courtesy of Jan Kim Lim, UCLA Athletics
Photo courtesy of Jan Kim Lim, UCLA Athletics
