UCLA men’s basketball (5–1, 0-0 Big Tenc) cruised to an 86–46 victory over Presbyterian on Friday night at Pauley Pavilion, relying on an all-around team performance to control the game despite the absence of star forward Tyler Bilodeau, who sat with a sprained knee.
The Bruins opened the night with complete command, scoring the first seven points and making their first five field-goal attempts. Senior guard Skyy Clark sparked the early surge, slicing through the lane for two quick layups before converting an and-one to push UCLA ahead. Clark finished the first half with a very efficient 6-for-8 from the field with 14 points, anchoring a 41–22 advantage at the break.
UCLA’s defense set the tone from the start. The Bruins held Presbyterian to 8-for-25 shooting in the first half and won the rebounding battle 18–8 through 20 minutes. Sophomore guard Trent Perry added energy off the bench, collecting two steals in back-to-back possessions that helped UCLA widen the margin.
Coming out of halftime, UCLA continued to control and dominate. The Bruins extended their lead to as much as 43 behind steady scoring from senior guard Donovan Dent and redshirt sophomore guard Brandon Williams, both of whom attacked the paint and kept the tempo high. A decisive 19–2 run midway through the second half broke the game open, and Presbyterian went without a made field goal in the final six minutes.
Clark led all scorers with 22 points on 9-for-11 shooting, adding three rebounds and one assist in 25 minutes. Dent followed with 14 points, one rebound and five assists, controlling the floor as both a scorer and playmaker. Williams added 11 points and seven rebounds, while junior forward Eric Dailey Jr. posted seven points and four rebounds on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting.
Off the bench, senior guard Jamar Brown delivered one of the night’s most impactful defensive stretches, recording three steals and applying constant pressure on the perimeter. UCLA finished with nine steals as a team and forced 17 Presbyterian turnovers, which the Bruins converted into 16 points.
UCLA shot 63% from the field (32-for-51) and 50% from three (6-for-12), while limiting Presbyterian to 33% overall and 10% from deep. The Bruins also dominated interior scoring with a 50–28 advantage in the paint and held a 33–25 rebounding edge.
With the win, UCLA secures its second straight blowout victory and continues to build rhythm heading into a marquee matchup early next week.
UCLA’s next game comes Tuesday, Nov. 25, when the Bruins travel to Chase Center to face rival UC Berkeley at 7:00 p.m.
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Featured Image Photographed via Jan Kim Lim/UCLA Athletics
