ANN ARBOR, Mich. — It wasn’t a complete disaster, but… it could have been better.
For the UCLA Bruins, the game spans a full 40 minutes, and unfortunately, they faltered in the second half. Despite a promising start, they fell to No. 2 Michigan with a final score of 86-56, putting an end to their two-game winning streak.
For those tuning in on national television, the second half was, well, less than impressive.
Initially, the Bruins matched up quite well against the Wolverines but lost their edge after halftime, losing much of the rebounding momentum they had built. Michigan managed to dominate on offense, hitting 11 of their first 12 shots.
Aday Mara, a former Bruin now with Michigan, thrilled the sold-out crowd. His first play was a behind-the-back assist to Mores Johnson Jr. for an easy layup. Later, he added a reverse dunk in the second half, contributing to a lead that swelled to as much as 30 points.
Even though UCLA (17-8, 9-5 Big Ten) outscored Michigan (24-1, 14-1) by a small margin in the first half and shot well from three (5 for 11), they only led by two points at halftime, 40-38.
This edge didn’t last. The Bruins struggled offensively in the second half, making only 25.9 percent of their shots and just one of 10 from three-point range. They were also out-rebounded by 11 after halftime.
Looking for silver linings, the return of guard Skye Clark—after sitting out for ten games—was a small victory for UCLA. He came off the bench and scored eight points in 16 minutes, which was a positive note, but, frankly, it just wasn’t enough.
So, what now?
This game was another missed opportunity for the Bruins to solidify their stance with the NCAA Tournament selection committee. Previous chances against Arizona and Gonzaga didn’t pan out, leaving them precariously close to the bubble. Yep, they really need at least one, if not two more wins in tough matchups to feel secure heading into the selection weekend.
The crucial point came when UCLA had the chance to take the lead early in the second half. Unfortunately, Xavier Booker missed two critical three-point attempts. Moments later, Mara connected on a three-pointer, propelling Michigan on a scoring spree that highlighted UCLA’s struggles. The Wolverines went on a 19-7 run and stretched their lead to 59-45, dashing UCLA’s hopes for an upset.
It was clear that Michigan’s imposing front line proved to be a significant issue for UCLA throughout the game.
Mara, in particular, was a constant reminder of what UCLA was missing, contributing nine points, eight rebounds, three assists, and three blocks to the game. His continued success against his former team made the defeat all the harder to swallow.
Looking ahead, the road doesn’t get any easier for UCLA. They are set to face No. 10 Michigan State on Tuesday, followed by a tough matchup against No. 8 Illinois at home on February 21, marking the end of a challenging stretch in their regular season.
