Skyy Clark and Eric Dailey Jr. both contributed 14 points to lead the No. 7 seed UCLA Bruins to a decisive victory over the 10th-seeded Utah State, finishing with a score of 72-47 on Thursday night. This commanding win propels the Bruins into the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in five years.
Aday Mara, the impressive 7-foot-3 center coming off the bench, added 10 points, showcasing depth within the Bruins’ roster. Coach Mick Cronin’s squad, which now holds a 23-10 record, is set to face off against the second-seeded Tennessee in the Midwest Region on Saturday. The Bruins aim for another Sweet 16 appearance, a milestone they hope to achieve for the fourth time in recent March Madness history. Tennessee secured their place by achieving a dominant 77-62 victory over Wofford.
For Utah State, Mason Falslev led with 17 points, while Deyton Albury topped up the scorecard with 12. Despite reaching their third consecutive NCAA Tournament, this season marked a new era under head coach Jarrod Calhoun, the latest in a line of three coaches during this period.
The Bruins managed to gain a solid upper hand by limiting Utah State to just two free throws during a critical 12-2 run, which culminated in a 39-27 lead by halftime. With another burst early in the second half, the Bruins extended their lead with a 17-7 run, effectively establishing a 20-point cushion.
As a team, the Bruins shot an impressive 48% from the floor, boosted by a first-half performance of 55%. They capitalized beyond the arc, hitting 10 of their 24 three-point attempts. Eight out of ten players added to their scoring tally, and the Bruins displayed exceptional teamwork with 22 assists on their 26 field goals.
In contrast, Utah State struggled offensively, managing only a 30% shooting rate while turning over the ball 11 times, which allowed UCLA to convert those mishaps into 20 points.