UCLA avoids late scare in 75-71 NCAA tournament first-round win over UCF

PHILADELPHIA — Trent Perry stayed at UCLA for moments like these.

After averaging just more than 11 minutes, three points and logging zero starts for the Bruins last season, he could have left. And he wouldn’t have been criticized for it. But he stayed.

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The sophomore guard, standing at the free throw line, glanced at Mick Cronin after the Bruins’ once 14-point lead was trimmed to just three with 8.3 seconds left Friday. UCLA’s coach, always an emblem of emotion, was expressionless on the Xfinity Mobile Arena sideline.

Perry went through his usual routine.

“It’s just me and the rim,” he told himself. “You dream of these moments.”

He stared at the rim, took a deep breath and drained both attempts. It provided a momentary cushion — one that was finalized three plays later with a missed 24-footer by Jordan Burks to cement No. 7-seeded UCLA’s 75-71 win over No. 10-seeded UCF in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

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Perry (15 points) was one of four Bruins to score 10 or more points. The balanced offense partially filled the void of an injured Tyler Bilodeau — who suffered a mild knee sprain in last Friday’s Big Ten tournament quarterfinal. But his absence was still felt.

The Bruins’ leading scorer warmed up with the team and was expected to play Friday. But Cronin made the final decision.

“[I] woke up a little bit sore, and ultimately coach decided to hold me out,” Bilodeau told The Sporting Tribune. “Who doesn’t want to play in March Madness? It’s definitely tough, but it was probably the right thing.”

Without Bilodeau, UCLA allowed UCF to control multiple second-half bursts. The Knights matched the moment.

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Their sporadic full-court man press resulted in a Bruin turnover before the first media timeout of the second half — a soon-to-be theme down the stretch.

Twelve of UCF’s first 16 points after the break came from distance — rhythmic, movement-heavy offense led to open shooting pockets around the…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ucla-avoids-scare-75-71-053004726.html

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Publish date : 2026-03-21 05:30:00

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