UCLA's Sweet 16 ambitions thwarted in season-ending loss to Connecticut
With leading scorer Tyler Bilodeau out again because of injury, No. 7 UCLA fades in a 73-57 loss to No. 2 UConn in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
UCLA's Donovan Dent, right, drives to the basket in front of Connecticut's Malachi Smith during the first half of the Bruins' 73-57 loss in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Sunday. (Emilee Chinn / Getty Images) On the night reigning NCAA champion Florida was eliminated by Iowa , UCLA tried to follow the Hawkeyes’ lead against Connecticut, the team that had worn the crown the previous two years. And for the second straight game they were hoping to win without leading scorer Tyler Bilodeau , whose sprained knee still hadn't healed enough for coach Mick Cronin to risk putting him on the floor.
Seventh-seeded UCLA battled, managing to take a brief lead in the second half. But in the end, No. 2 Connecticut's size and power were too much for the Bruins to overcome in a 73-57 loss in the second round of the NCAA tournament Sunday.
Read more: Without Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA edges Central Florida to advance at NCAA tournament Four players scored in double figures for UCLA. Xavier Booker finished with 13 points, Eric Dailey Jr. had 12 points and Donovan Dent and Skyy Clark each finished with 11.
But the Bruins couldn’t contain Connecticut forward Alex Karaban, who erupted for 27 points, as the Huskies advanced to the Sweet 16 to play No. 3 Michigan State in Washington, D. C.