The UCLA men’s basketball team defeated Michigan State, 88-84, in a Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal game at the United Center on March 13. Donovan Dent led the Bruins with 23 points and 12 assists, helping secure their place in the tournament semifinals.
This victory is significant for UCLA as it marks their sixth win in seven games and avenges an earlier season loss to Michigan State. The Bruins improved their overall record to 23-10 and will face Purdue next in the semifinals.
Dent contributed across the board, making three of five three-point attempts, collecting six rebounds, and recording four steals. He has now achieved double-digit points and assists in consecutive games. Trent Perry also played a key role by scoring 22 points and making all six of his free throws in the final minute of play. Perry finished shooting six-for-ten from the field and four-for-eight from beyond the arc.
Skyy Clark added 15 points while Eric Dailey Jr. posted a double-double with 14 points and ten rebounds. “We matched their physicality and played an unbelievable first half. Guys never flinched, kept knocking in big shots, both these guys next to me [Trent and Donovan] and Skyy Clark – four guys in double figures. Obviously, to win this game with Tyler [Bilodeau] only playing 10 minutes is monumental for us, monumental for us. Brandon Williams, big night, nine points and four rebounds,” said a member of the UCLA staff.
Michigan State was led by Jeremy Fears Jr., who scored 21 points with 13 assists. Carson Cooper contributed another 13 points for the Spartans.
UCLA shot over fifty-five percent from the field and made thirteen three-pointers out of twenty-seven attempts. The Bruins maintained their lead after overcoming an early deficit and held off several late surges by Michigan State to clinch the win.
Looking ahead, UCLA will play Purdue on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. Pacific Time at the United Center. The game will be broadcast nationally on CBS.
