LOS ANGELES — Eric Dailey Jr. made a decisive shot over two defenders with just 7 seconds remaining, securing a nail-biting 63-61 win for UCLA against No. 9 ranked Michigan State on Tuesday night.
Skyy Clark contributed 14 points, while Tyler Bilodeau added 13, helping the Bruins improve their record to 17-6 and 8-4 within the Big Ten Conference. This victory marks UCLA’s sixth consecutive win, with five of those victories coming against ranked opponents.
Jaden Akins was in contention to win the game for the Spartans, but his last-second three-point attempt hit the front of the rim as time expired, leaving him in visible disappointment. Hall of Famer and Michigan State alumnus Magic Johnson was seen urging his team during the tense final moments.
Akins was the leading scorer for the Spartans with 15 points, the only player from the team to reach double figures in scoring.
In a dramatic finish, the game saw the lead change hands and tie three times in the closing seven minutes. The Bruins had initially built an 11-point lead, only to see it evaporate in front of notable alum and Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. As the score tied at 61-61, Jaxon Kohler had an opportunity to push the Spartans ahead but was called for traveling after missing a layup and securing an offensive rebound with 23 seconds left on the clock.
In terms of overall performance, the Spartans fell short during their Los Angeles trip, having already been defeated by USC 70-64, which snapped their impressive 13-game winning streak. Offensively, they struggled once more, particularly with their three-point shooting, which has been inconsistent.
For UCLA, this was a notable achievement as they continue to perform well in close contests, now holding a 6-1 record in games decided by five points or less. At home, their performance has improved remarkably, with a record of 12-1.
A pivotal moment in the game came when UCLA’s Lazar Stefanovic hit a crucial three-pointer to lift the score to 61-59. Despite Kohler tying the game shortly thereafter, both Bilodeau and Aday Mara missed opportunities to secure the lead. The Spartans then turned the ball over due to a shot-clock violation with just over a minute left to play.
One significant takeaway from the game was UCLA’s difficulty in scoring, as they were held scoreless on 10 attempts during a span of 7 and a half minutes, allowing the Spartans to take the lead 59-58 at one point.
Looking ahead, Michigan State will be back on the court to host Oregon on Saturday, while UCLA will play against Penn State as part of a three-game homestand.
