Eric Boggs
Ohio State faced a formidable challenge on Sunday, attempting to match UCLA at its own defensive game, but ultimately fell short in a 69-61 defeat at Pauley Pavilion. The Buckeyes struggled offensively, shooting just 31.7% from the field against a Bruins squad that boasts the stingiest defense in the Big Ten, allowing an average of only 64.7 points per game. UCLA’s Eric Dailey Jr. proved to be the difference-maker, leading all scorers with 20 points, while the Bruins’ defensive pressure resulted in seven blocks and seven steals.
Despite the loss, Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton delivered an impressive performance, tallying 21 points. However, he received little offensive support, with Micah Parrish being the only other Buckeye to reach double figures, finishing with 12 points.
The first half was a battle of defensive intensity, as both teams struggled to find an offensive rhythm. The Bruins established an early 8-2 lead, but Devin Royal sparked the Buckeyes with an and-one dunk, cutting the deficit to 8-7. What followed was an extended scoring drought, with neither team able to capitalize on multiple fast-break opportunities for over four minutes. The first half was defined by poor shooting, as Ohio State connected on just 27.3% of its attempts and UCLA managed only 32.4%. The teams combined for 12 turnovers, underscoring the gritty, defensive nature of the contest. A brief exchange of three-pointers between Parrish and UCLA’s Sebastian Mack finally ended the offensive dry spell.
UCLA eventually pieced together a slow but effective 7-0 run, fueled by five points from Dailey. Thornton responded with five points of his own, but a last-second floater from Lazar Stefanovic helped the Bruins maintain a narrow two-possession lead at halftime, 28-24.
Ohio State’s frontcourt depth continued to be a concern, with Sean Stewart picking up three fouls in just five minutes of play. This compounded the Buckeyes’ struggles inside, as Aaron Bradshaw remained sidelined for the second consecutive game. Ivan Njegovan and Austin Parks, tasked with filling the void, combined for zero field goals and only four rebounds in 11 minutes.
As the second half commenced, Dailey took command for UCLA, scoring the Bruins’ first nine points. His dominance negated an early deep three-pointer from Ohio State’s John Mobley Jr. and propelled an 8-0 Bruins run, pushing the lead to 39-30. However, the Buckeyes quickly countered with a 7-0 run of their own, thanks in part to the unlikely contributions of Ques Glover, who maneuvered through defenders for two impressive layups.
UCLA managed to keep Ohio State at bay, with Skyy Clark hitting a critical three-pointer as the shot clock expired. Although Thornton responded with a deep three of his own, the Bruins’ Aday Mara answered with a dunk and an and-one layup to stretch the lead to 48-40 with just over ten minutes remaining. The Buckeyes struggled to close the gap, as a UCLA three-pointer and a pair of free throws from Tyler Bilodeau extended the deficit to double digits.
Ohio State never managed to cut the lead below six points for the remainder of the contest. A decisive 6-0 UCLA run in the final three minutes put the game out of reach, allowing the Bruins to secure a 69-61 victory.
Looking ahead, Ohio State will wrap up its two-game California road trip with a matchup against USC on Wednesday. The game is set to tip off at 10:30 p.m. Eastern on Big Ten Network.
UCLA received 56 votes in the most recent AP Poll, making them the third-highest team outside of the rankings. The Buckeyes, meanwhile, continue to battle adversity, with illness affecting multiple players. Bradshaw was unavailable due to illness, while Mobley and Stewart were both questionable before the game and likely had their conditioning impacted. Stewart’s foul trouble limited him to just 12 minutes on the floor.
Sunday’s game was also a special occasion at Pauley Pavilion, as UCLA honored basketball legend and Hall of Famer Bill Walton, an alum of the school who passed away last May at the age of 72. The victory marked the 500th career win for UCLA head coach Mick Cronin.
