First, UCLA had no reply for Michigan’s inside dominance.
Then, after an enormous comeback pushed the Bruins into the lead, they may not cease the Wolverines from lengthy vary.
The one-two punch was sufficient to stagger No. 22 UCLA throughout a 94-75 loss to No. 24 Michigan that dropped the Bruins again to .500 in Huge Ten play.
After considerably neutralizing Vladislav Goldin following his monster first half, UCLA was undone by Tre Donaldson’s three-pointers within the second half. Donaldson made 4 photographs from lengthy vary after halftime and completed with 20 factors.
The Wolverines (12-3 total, 4-0 Huge Ten) simply set the mark for many factors scored towards the Bruins (11-4, 2-2) this season because of Goldin including 36 factors on 13-for-18 capturing.
UCLA was out of types on either side of the courtroom on an evening when it made two of 20 three-pointers and missed 9 free throws within the second half.
Tyler Bilodeau and Sebastian Mack every scored 17 factors for the Bruins, who’ve misplaced two consecutive video games for the primary time this season.
For some time, it regarded like the sport was headed for an epic end.
As soon as trailing by 18 factors late within the first half, UCLA surged right into a 55-51 lead six minutes into the second half after ratcheting up its defensive depth and making two three-pointers after having missed their first 9 photographs from lengthy vary.
The most important crowd of the season was roaring when Bruins ahead Eric Dailey Jr. adopted a putback with an old school three-point play on a layup during which he was fouled after teammate Dylan Andrews got here up with a steal.
Michigan’s Vladislav Goldin dunks within the first half.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Occasions)
However UCLA fell into an prolonged chilly spell, going with no area aim for greater than 5 minutes. Michigan adopted a 7-0 run with a 6-0 push to take a 76-64 lead, and Wolverines followers quickly overtook the quiet area with “Lets go blue!” chants.
UCLA was again to full power for the primary time in a number of weeks after ahead William Kyle III returned from an undisclosed medical process that had sidelined him for 2 video games and Dailey was again from the facial damage that stored him out towards Nebraska final weekend. Guard Skyy Clark additionally performed after absorbing a number of photographs to his shoulder towards the Cornhuskers.
Michigan’s domination began at tipoff, Goldin simply beating Bilodeau for the leap ball and drawing a foul on his Bruins counterpart solely 47 seconds into the sport.
Goldin quickly dunked on Bilodeau on back-to-back performs, together with one during which he knocked Bilodeau to the courtroom and flexed after finishing the play.
There was no disgrace in getting beat by Goldin contemplating he scored on almost each defender on the way in which to 21 factors by halftime whereas making 9 of 11 photographs, together with 4 dunks. UCLA coach Mick Cronin tried a wide range of lineups, changing Bilodeau with 7-foot-3 middle Aday Mara and briefly taking part in Bilodeau alongside Mara.
The supersized lineup appeared to briefly stabilize the state of affairs for the Bruins earlier than Cronin yanked Mara after he missed a tip-in and acquired dunked on by Goldin halfway by way of the primary half. Mara didn’t return for the steadiness of the primary half, logging solely 5 minutes by the sport’s midpoint.
UCLA compounded its incapacity to counter Michigan’s inside dominance with extra dangerous capturing. Three days after the Bruins made solely 14.3% of their three-pointers throughout a loss to Nebraska, they had been by some means worse towards the Wolverines, lacking all eight photographs from lengthy vary by halftime.
Mack’s relentless drives to the basket, together with an acrobatic layup during which he was fouled, stored the Bruins from getting blown out. UCLA trailed solely 47-37 at halftime, largely as a result of the Wolverines dedicated eight extra turnovers than the Bruins.
After a short respite, it will get a lot worse for UCLA.