UCLA makes program history with 69-point blowout of Arkansas-Pine Bluff

LOS ANGELES – It would have been hard for Wednesday’s game between No. 9 UCLA (3-0) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff to be anything less than a lopsided affair, but just how lopsided it turned out still came as a surprise. 

The Bruins tore through the Golden Bears in a matchup that seemed over before the first 10 minutes and in the process UCLA surged to a 106-36 victory to remain undefeated. But while it’s good to be on the upside of any blowout, what the Bruins accomplished on Wednesday night was historic.

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Their 69-point margin of victory was the largest in UCLA history, etching this season’s Bruins into the rarest of territories for the nation’s most storied basketball program.

“Speechless. That wasn’t something that we are aiming for, but we’ll take it,” junior guard Trent Perry said. 

Pre-conference craziness

The nature of pre-conference games means that wildly uneven scores like Wednesday’s can happen. Ranked programs like UCLA invite smaller programs like Arkansas-Pine Bluff for a game and even if the talent disparity doesn’t make for the most competitive of matchups, it’s still an opportunity for the Bruins to sand out their rough edges. 

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That’s exactly what head coach Mick Cronin saw his team do and their commitment to their work is just one of the reasons he’s been so pleased to coach them this season.

“I appreciate they [Arkansas-Pine Bluff] came… Respect to those guys for trying,” Cronin said. “We’re concerned with getting better in certain areas. I thought our help defense was much better tonight than it was in the North Florida game… I thought the guys bought in. We have a great group of guys with a great team attitude.”

Nikola Kusturica #17 of the UCLA Bruins drives towards the basket during an NCAA Men’s Basketball game against the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions, Wednesday November 11, 2026 in Los Angeles, Calif.

Jordan Teller – The Sporting Tribune

Nikola Kusturica #17 of the UCLA Bruins drives towards the basket during an NCAA Men’s…

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Publish date : 2026-11-12 05:35:00

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