Sophomore guard Trent Perry was the star of Wednesday night as UCLA men’s basketball (12-5, 4-2 Big Ten) controlled the game in a four-quarter win against Penn State (9-8, 0-6 Big Ten). UCLA earned a win of 71-60 over the Nittany Lions and established their dominance with each quarter.
UCLA endured a sluggish start in the opening minutes as Penn State dictated the tempo early, capitalizing on turnovers and getting out in transition to build a small lead. The Bruins struggled to find rhythm offensively, missing several early three-point attempts while Penn State converted inside and at the free-throw line to stay in front. Despite the early struggles, UCLA began to settle in defensively, forcing stops and cleaning up the glass.
UCLA started to score as both teams battled through the game. UCLA built a six point advantage as Perry pushed the pace, and UCLA closed the half on a 12-2 scoring run to take a 29-23 advantage into the break. UCLA’s wall of defense kept Penn State guessing, limiting them to under 25 points in the first half.
Inspired by the gap in their performance, Penn State managed to rally to take the lead early in the second half. A burst of high energy and adrenaline boosted them to take a lead of 49-47. Dominick Stewart and Eli Rice stood out amongst the Nittany Lions as they scored 16 and 14 points respectively, helping to soften the blow of their loss.
UCLA stayed patient during this lead, enabling their collective endurance and organized teamwork to get them back on track. The Bruins’ discipline and stamina was revealed as they closed the game with a score of 71-60. Senior forward Tyler Bilodeau topped this quarter off with 21 points and nine rebounds, as Perry scored a career-high of 30 points, charging towards victory.
In their first season competing in the Big Ten, winning at the Bryce Jordan Center was so significant for UCLA because the players are able to gain pride and composure under pressure for future games.
Coach Mick Cronin said of the play, “Obviously, Trent made some big shots… if you’re gonna win games and go through a season, that’s our third different player to have 30-plus points: Tyler, Skyy and now Trent. That’s conference play.”
Cronin’s belief in his team will carry them in future endeavors, and Perry confirmed this postgame as he stated his coaches told him to “Let it fly. Be aggressive”. The strength of the team and their connections with players and coaches alike will be hugely supportive as they climb the ranks to even more intense games.
UCLA’s performance tonight of 21 for 21 free throws is a testament to their strength and confidence in themselves. They will continue to expand their presence as Big Ten team and flourish through their teamwork and support of each other.
Looking forward, UCLA will take on Ohio State at 10 a.m. PST on Saturday, Jan. 17 in Columbus, Ohio.
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Featured Image via UCLA Athletics
