The UCLA men’s basketball team secured a 98-66 victory over Rutgers in a Big Ten Conference matchup at Pauley Pavilion on Tuesday night. With this win, UCLA improved its record to 16-7 overall and 8-4 in conference play.
Five Bruins players reached double figures in scoring. Xavier Booker led the team with a career-high 24 points, making 10 of his 11 field goal attempts and hitting all four of his three-point shots. Tyler Bilodeau contributed 19 points and seven rebounds, while Donovan Dent recorded his second consecutive double-double with 13 points and 11 assists. Eric Dailey Jr. scored 17 points, and Trent Perry added 10.
The Bruins made 12 out of their 21 three-point attempts and finished the game with 25 assists against just two turnovers, coming within one of tying the school record for fewest turnovers in a game.
Booker became the first UCLA player since T.J. Cummings in November 2001 to make at least ten field goals on eleven or fewer attempts in a single game.
“Third game in seven days,” said Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men’s Head Basketball Coach. “Obviously after the emotional game, from an adrenaline standpoint for the guys on Saturday, having to travel on two days rest, and two days rest, everybody goes through it. The guys handled it great tonight. Twenty-five assists is probably a season high. Donovan Dent continues to pass and take care of the ball. Great to see Xavier Booker smile – and I know he made shots tonight, but they only got him down for one block. I thought he was more than active again.”
Dent’s performance marked his twelfth career double-double.
UCLA maintained control throughout the contest, leading Rutgers by twelve points at halftime (52-40) before opening the second half with a decisive run that extended their lead further. Over the final eight minutes and forty-five seconds, UCLA outscored Rutgers by thirteen points as they posted their highest point total of any Big Ten game this season.
The Bruins shot nearly fifty-six percent from the field overall and converted sixteen of eighteen free throws for almost eighty-nine percent accuracy from the line.
Rutgers’ Kaden Powers scored eighteen points but did not score in the second half as UCLA held Rutgers to thirty-two percent shooting after halftime.
UCLA will next face Washington at home on Saturday, February 7th at Pauley Pavilion; tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m., with national television coverage on FS1.
