They’re again to full power. They’re getting glorious guard play. They’re optimizing lineups that now embody a sure Spanish 7-footer.
On the night time that Tyler Bilodeau returned from an ankle damage, the UCLA Bruins confirmed simply how formidable they are often.
What was alleged to be a showdown was a rout, the Bruins outclassing a nationally ranked group on their dwelling courtroom.
UCLA was higher throughout the board Thursday night time throughout a 78-52 victory over No. 16 Oregon earlier than probably the most raucous and appreciative crowd of the season at Pauley Pavilion.
The followers have been on their ft and roaring after UCLA middle Aday Mara threw an outlet move paying homage to legendary predecessor Invoice Walton to Eric Dailey Jr. for a vicious one-handed dunk. The Bruins have been up by 27 factors and everybody sporting blue and gold may dream in regards to the potentialities for a group that appeared lifeless as lately as 2½ weeks in the past.
Now have a look at them.
The Bruins (16-6 total, 7-4 Massive Ten) have received 5 video games in a row and have gone 6-0 in opposition to their previous Pac-12 rivals, together with a nonconference conquer Arizona.
Dailey led the best way with 21 factors on eight-for-nine taking pictures, level guard Dylan Andrews added 15 factors with out a trace of the cramping points that sidelined him for the ultimate 5 minutes in opposition to USC, and Bilodeau had 15 after lacking many of the final two video games due to his sprained ankle.
UCLA’s Skyy Clark knocks the ball out of the fingers of Oregon’s Brandon Angel within the first half Thursday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Instances)
The Bruins received so comfortably {that a} good chunk of the group departed earlier than the ultimate minutes to beat site visitors as UCLA coach Mick Cronin inserted a slew of reserves. Trent Perry supplied a remaining spotlight when he threw a lob to William Kyle III for a dunk.
Oregon (16-5, 5-5) had no solutions regardless of a quick flurry to open the second half. The Geese aggressively attacked the basket, reducing what had been a 17-point deficit to 10 on T.J. Bamba’s driving layup.
However a turning level when got here when UCLA’s Aday Mara rejected a driving layup by Bamba and Kobe Johnson got here up with a steal within the backcourt, forcing Geese coach Dana Altman to bend over and place his fingers on his knees in anguish. Johnson then drove and handed to Mara for a dunk, sparking a 12-4 run that basically ended Oregon’s hopes of a comeback.
Middle Nate Bittle had 13 factors for the Geese, who shot 41.2% to the Bruins’ 55.6%.
Mara completed with seven factors, three blocks, three rebounds and three assists in 20 efficient minutes, spending stretches enjoying alongside both Bilodeau or Dailey as a part of what would possibly the Bruins’ greatest lineup.
UCLA performed a few of its greatest protection of the season in constructing a 40-26 halftime lead, the Bruins holding the Geese scoreless for greater than 5½ minutes at one level. Pauley Pavilion was rocking within the remaining seconds earlier than halftime after Mara’s block of a shot by Brandon Angel triggered a quick break ending in a Johnson layup.
Bilodeau shortly introduced his return when he made a three-pointer solely 13 seconds into the sport and Dailey helped his group construct a double-digit lead by making his first 5 photographs earlier than UCLA cooled significantly, making simply one in every of eight photographs throughout one stretch late within the first half.
Mara continued his function as an rising fan favourite, spinning round Supreme Prepare dinner for a dunk and drawing a foul on Prepare dinner throughout Oregon’s subsequent possession after Prepare dinner tried to push Mara out of the best way for a rebound.
There was no stopping the massive man, or his group, on an evening every little thing got here collectively.