UCLA holds off Ohio State for Mick Cronin’s 500th career win

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Guard Eric Dailey Jr. led UCLA in scoring on Sunday with 20 points. (David Dennis / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

A special day needed a big moment.

Leave it to the tallest Bruin to deliver a handful in his own tribute to Bill Walton.

With UCLA clinging to a narrow lead over Ohio State midway through the second half Sunday, Aday Mara took a pass from teammate Skyy Clark and pivoted for a dunk. The 7-foot-3 center followed with another move in which he finished through contact, converting a layup in which he was fouled.

UCLA’s lead was back up to eight points and the Bruins began to pull away for a 69-61 victory inside Pauley Pavilion on the day they honored the late Walton.

Mara added an emphatic block of Ohio State star Bruce Thornton’s driving layup, a steal and a jump hook in the final minutes, the crowd of 9,015 buzzing every time he touched the ball.

UCLA had coach Mick Cronin celebrates with the 4s-up sign after a win earlier this season. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

“I thought he changed us,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said after Mara helped him notch his 500th career victory. “He definitely infused us with energy and the crowd loves him, so that helped.”

Playing most of the second half after teammate Tyler Bilodeau picked up a quick foul and committed a bad turnover upon his return by throwing a pass into the backcourt, Mara finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and a steal.

Clark’s step-back three-pointer with 38 seconds left ensured the Bruins (20-8 overall, 11-6 Big Ten) would bounce back from their collapse against Minnesota last week.

After contributing to the meltdown with epic inefficiency at the foul line, Cronin’s team made 15 of 20 free throws Sunday, helping him become the youngest active coach to reach the 500-win milestone. He’s also only the 18th active coach to have tallied at least that many wins at the NCAA Division I level.

Mara, Clark and forward Eric Dailey Jr. entered the postgame media conference wearing…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/ucla-holds-off-ohio-state-232955380.html

Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2025-02-23 23:29:00

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