In a thrilling matchup, UCLA secured a significant upset by defeating No. 4 Purdue 69-67, thanks to a clutch three-pointer from Tyler Bilodeau with just eight seconds on the clock. This victory comes after a disappointing 12-point loss to Ohio State last weekend, which prompted Bruins coach Mick Cronin to publicly challenge his players, specifically Donovan Dent, Eric Dailey Jr., and Bilodeau.
“I think we all responded right away, even before we got on the plane after he got on us,” remarked Dent, who led the Bruins with 23 points, 13 assists—including the assist on the winning shot—and three blocks.
The Bruins entered the game as 6.5-point underdogs, according to BetMGM Sportsbook, but managed to snap Purdue”s nine-game winning streak with improved defensive performance, an area where they have struggled throughout the season. With this victory, UCLA improved to 13-6 overall and 5-3 in the Big Ten.
“When you”re challenged like that publicly, you got to respond publicly,” Dailey said, contributing 12 points and seven rebounds to the team effort. Bilodeau added 14 points, solidifying a strong performance from the Bruins.
This win represents UCLA”s biggest achievement of the season, especially after previously falling short against then-No. 5 Arizona, then-No. 8 Gonzaga, and then-No. 25 Iowa. Compounding their challenges, the Bruins have been without guard Skyy Clark, who has been sidelined for five consecutive games due to a hamstring injury, necessitating increased playing time for other team members.
“Even in our earlier losses to Arizona and Gonzaga, we were competitive,” Dent added. “We know how good of a team we have; it just depends on which one of us shows up that night. Either we”re going to play hard or we”re not, and that”s been our struggle all season. I think we can build off this a lot and go on a big run here.”
Coach Cronin had previously expressed concerns about Dent”s involvement, urging him not to be a bystander. “You got to perform,” he warned. “You can”t stand around when your team needs you.”
Additionally, Cronin praised the defensive tenacity shown by Dent against Purdue”s Braden Smith, who only managed 12 points on 5 of 13 shooting. “He was out there fighting and scrapping and playing with his heart, not watching,” Cronin said, commending Dent”s all-around effort.
Xavier Booker also faced criticism from Cronin for not being aggressive enough, despite scoring nine points on 4 of 5 shooting. “Just foul somebody, miss a shot, push somebody on the ground,” Cronin urged. “Do something to show your teammates you care. This is competitive sports, man. Fortitude matters.”
Looking ahead, Cronin voiced his frustration about the Big Ten scheduling, which placed five of UCLA”s first seven league games on the road. The Bruins came into the matchup against Purdue on only two days” rest after their Ohio State game, while the Boilermakers had been in Los Angeles since their game against USC the previous Saturday. “I want to thank the Big Ten for that,” he quipped. “I don”t think they care about basketball.”
With only 1.5 months remaining in the season, UCLA is focused on solidifying their place in the NCAA Tournament, aiming to build on this pivotal victory.
