After UCLA trailed by as many as 23 points in the first half, Donovan Dent did his best Tyus Edney impression — driving coast to coast for a game-winning layup in overtime as UCLA stunned No. 10 Illinois Saturday night at Pauley Pavilion.
“Let me tell you about coaching: Ball goes in, you look smart,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said after beginning his postgame news conference with a reference to Edney’s 1995 coast-to-coast NCAA tournament second-round game-winner. “The kids executed.”
Bruins fans stormed the court as officials reviewed and upheld the buzzer-beater that took down the Illini, 95-94.
UCLA (18-9, 10-6 Big Ten) never led by more than five points and fought through multiple ties and lead changes to clinch the signature, momentum-shifting victory.
The win was especially important for the Bruins’ NCAA tournament chances after they took two losses to No. 2 Michigan and No. 15 Michigan State on a road trip last week. Illinois was the third Quadrant 1 opponent and 10th conference foe UCLA has beaten this season with four games left before the Big Ten tournament tips off.
“We did not run one thing we practiced for the first 10 minutes because we were rattled, because they were making shots,” Cronin said. “I didn’t like the look on their face before the game. I think it was almost like they had lost confidence.”
On top of the back-to-back big losses, the win over Illinois (22-5, 13-3) was a boost for the UCLA program on the heels of two viral controversies during and after Tuesday’s loss to the Spartans. Cronin sent his own player, center Steven Jamerson II, to the locker room after he committed a hard foul with UCLA trailing by 27 points and chided a reporter postgame for asking what the fiery coach called one of the worst questions he’s ever been asked.
Though the incidents led to some public calls for Cronin’s firing, the team rallied together and held multiple players only meetings ahead of the huge win Saturday.
“Anything on the outside noise and all that, everyone can speak, whatever. It’s all about what’s going on in the locker room, though,” Dent said. “We’re at our highest point together as a team, so it just speaks volumes.”
The Illini, known for their three-point shooting prowess, made 10 of their first 19 shots from beyond the arc, heavily contributing to their 20-0 run that spanned about six minutes midway through the first half. That shooting fell off, particularly early in the second half, allowing UCLA’s comeback fueled by a double-double from Dent and a 20-point performance from Eric Dailey Jr.
The Illini made just three three-pointers in the last 25 minutes of play, including going 0 for 5 in overtime, finishing shooting 31% from three-point land compared to 39% by the Bruins.
Cronin said UCLA specifically honed in on shutting down Illinois star freshman Keaton Wagler and Kylan Boswell, who combined for 32 points, forcing the Illini’s secondary options to take the bulk of the attempts from long range.
“Don’t tell me we’re not capable,” Cronin said, referencing critiques of UCLA’s defense.
Illinois was also dominant on the glass, picking up 20 offensive rebounds, creating second-chance opportunities that forced overtime and gave them a lead with four seconds remaining in the extra period. However, the Bruins’ much stronger shooting percentage at 51% compared to 41% for Illinois, coupled with Dent’s clutch drive to the basket, were enough to give UCLA the win.
“We got caught on a couple switch switches, a couple scrambles. Didn’t get in great rebounding position, that hurt us there,” forward Tyler Bilodeau said. “We showed great toughness despite that.”
Wagler drove to the basket late in the second half and was hit by Dailey, who fouled out of the contest. Wagler hit two free throws with 19 seconds left to tie it. Dent then missed a three-pointer with one second left, sending the game to overtime.
The teams stayed within two points of each other in overtime. Trent Perry hit two free throws with 16 seconds left to give UCLA a 93-92 lead.
Ben Humrichous missed a three-pointer and Wagler tipped the rebound in to give Illinois a 94-93 lead with 4.9 seconds left.
After two timeouts, Dent took the inbound on the left side of the court and drove the length of the floor before floating underneath 7-foot-2 Illinois center Zvonimir Ivisic to hit the game-winning layup.
After both Dailey and former Illinois guard Skyy Clark fouled out late in the game, Bilodeau, who is averaging 18.1 points per game this season, took over. The forward was held to two points in the first half, but he came alive late to finish with 18 points.
“I’m just glad that when I came out, those guys kept going with that intensity and that energy,” Dailey said. “That’s all I want.”
Behind Dailey and Bilodeau, Clark scored 10 points, Xavier Booker added 16 off the bench and Dent earned 15 of UCLA’s 21 assists to go along with 14 points for his seventh double-double of the season.
Next up for the Bruins is a bout with crosstown rival USC on Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion.
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