BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — In a tightly contested matchup, UCLA narrowly defeated Indiana, 72-68, thanks to Dylan Andrews sinking two free throws with just four seconds remaining.

With this victory, the Bruins improved to a record of 19-7 and 10-5 in the Big Ten, currently positioning themselves fifth in the standings. A top four finish is crucial for securing a double bye into the upcoming conference tournament.
UCLA jumped out to an early lead, holding a maximum advantage of 13 points during the first half. They maintained a 62-52 lead following a jumper by Tyler Bilodeau with 7:43 left on the clock. However, Indiana responded with a layup from Myles Rice, followed by a couple of baskets from Malik Reneau. After Kobe Johnson hit a jumper, Mackenzie Mgbako’s missed three-pointer was tipped in by Reneau, bringing the score to 67-63 with 2:42 remaining. With just 53 seconds on the clock, Reneau completed a three-point play that cut UCLA’s lead to 70-68. Rice then struggled with a jumper, and Mgbako missed both a layup and a three before Andrews secured the game with his free throws, extending UCLA’s lead to two possessions.
Bilodeau stood out with 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists, leading the Bruins in scoring. Skyy Clark had an impressive outing, converting all three of his three-point attempts for a total of 11 points, while Johnson contributed with 10 points, six rebounds, and three assists.
On the other side, Luke Goode led Indiana’s effort with 16 points and seven rebounds, while both Mackenzie Mgbako and Malik Reneau added 14 points each.
This match marked a significant moment for the Bruins, as they bounced back from a previous loss and earned head coach Mick Cronin his 499th career win. Notably, it was their first visit to Bloomington since December 29, 1956, and their first matchup against the Hoosiers since the second round of the 2007 NCAA tournament, where UCLA previously emerged victorious with a score of 54-49.
Looking ahead, UCLA will host Minnesota on Tuesday, while Indiana has a week to prepare before facing No. 7 Purdue at home on February 23.