In an intense showdown on Monday night, UCLA narrowly clinched a 73-69 win over Northwestern in Evanston, Illinois. Tyler Bilodeau proved instrumental for the Bruins, contributing 19 points and propelling them to victory after they almost squandered a robust 14-point lead. The nail-biting finish witnessed Bilodeau scoring back-to-back dunks, bringing UCLA to a promising 68-54 lead with just over three minutes on the clock. However, a series of turnovers and missed opportunities allowed the Wildcats to claw their way back.
Ty Berry’s three-pointer narrowed the deficit to 68-65 with only 33 seconds remaining. As the pressure mounted, another turnover by the Bruins enabled Berry to score a driving layup, closing the gap to a nail-biting 68-67. In the final moments, Skyy Clark managed to sink a crucial free throw, giving UCLA some breathing room. A timely steal by William Kyle III sealed Northwestern’s fate as they were forced to foul, and UCLA capitalized by making four consecutive free throws to secure the win.
Eric Dailey Jr. chipped in with 12 points for the Bruins, while Aday Mara contributed significantly off the bench, scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds for his second career double-double. Additionally, Skyy Clark added 10 points to the effort, boosting UCLA’s season tally to 21 wins against 9 losses and a 12-7 record in the Big Ten.
On the opposite end, Northwestern’s Ty Berry led the charge with 22 points, Carson Martinelli added 20, and K.J. Windham finished with 10 points. Despite their rally in the second half, the Wildcats’ effort was not enough to extend their three-game winning streak. The first half saw a closely contested battle marked by nine lead changes, with Northwestern managing to edge into a 35-34 lead at halftime through strategic plays from Berry.
UCLA’s triumph marks their tenth win out of the last thirteen games and bolsters their capability in closely contested matches, standing 8-3 in games decided by five points or fewer. Looking ahead, UCLA is set to conclude their regular-season journey at home against USC this Saturday, while Northwestern will face-off against No. 13 Maryland.
