The UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team fell 98-97 to the Indiana Hoosiers in double overtime at the Pauley Pavilion on Saturday.
The Bruins led 36-30 heading into halftime, but Indiana’s offense was able to fly past the Bruins defense to narrowly edge them out, following their win against Purdue on Tuesday. Now the Hoosiers have a 6-5 Big Ten Conference record and UCLA falls to 7-4.
Here are five takeaways from the Bruins’ wrenching and costly loss:
Everything comes to an end
The UCLA Bruins had won every game this season at home, until Saturday. UCLA had plenty of opportunities with a lead heading into halftime and a second chance in overtime after a comeback, but it wasn’t enough. Now, the Bruins’ 12-game home win streak and three-game Big Ten win streak have come to an end.
Where’s the defense?
UCLA had played solid defense early in the game, but when the opponent wins, especially by putting up 98 points, then that’s a problem. In the second half, UCLA had a six-point lead, but the Bruins lost it and allowed the Hoosiers to score 46 points in the half.
In fact, the Bruins allowed three Indiana players to score 24 points or more and were unable to stump the Hoosiers’ offense late. In both overtimes, when UCLA needed a stop to win, the Bruins were unable to do it and that ultimately cost them.
Fouling out
Although the defense struggled at times throughout the game, they still were solid and made plays with their physicality, grabbing 46 rebounds compared to Indiana’s 40. The rebounding led to loose-ball fouls on Indiana; they were able to get Hoosier players in foul trouble. Three fouled out.
The advantage should have been in the Bruins’ court with Indiana having junior guard Nick Dorn in foul foul trouble and losing two bench players and starting senior guard Conor Enright. However, they were still not able to build a big lead and muster enough plays to win the game.
Giving it their all
Donovan Dent played the most of any player who stepped on the court with 50 minutes of game time, due to Skyy Clark not being available. Dent racked up 26-points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists and 4 steals as he tried to lead the Bruins to the win, but he wasn’t the only one. The entire team showed heart; the Bruins battled. Senior forward Tyler Bilodeau put up 18 points and sophomore guard Trent Perry led UCLA with 25.
However, heart isn’t everything. UCLA needed to make its shots but ended with a 39 percent success rate from the field.
Perry almost to the rescue
If UCLA had won the game, young Bruin guard Trent Perry would have had another legendary story to tell about his sophomore season. Perry made the game-tying three to get UCLA to overtime, as well as a big three off an inbounds pass by Dent with seconds left on the shot clock in double overtime.
Perry made all 10 of his free throws. He had the third most rebounds on the team with 7. He was one of three players to get a steal and a block. Even in a loss, Perry excelled. UCLA will have a decision to make with the lineup as soon as Skyy Clark is able to come back from injury.
Bonus takeaway: Dent making the wrong play
We can’t end this series of takeaways without noting the most important point of all: Donovan Dent fouling in the final seconds of double overtime is the kind of play he — and UCLA — can’t make. The effort was there but the crunch-time instincts were not.
Postscript: Can’t always scramble
The other thing we simply have to mention is that UCLA left it late again. UCLA was down six to Purdue with 1:35 left and scrambled to win. Against Indiana, UCLA was down nine with 1:20 left and rallied to force overtime. UCLA simply can’t expect to steal games in the final 90 seconds all the time. The Bruins frankly got what they deserved.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Five takeaways from UCLA’s heartbreaking 2OT loss to Indiana
Reporting by Ryan Lorenz, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
