:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/52340399/usa_today_9751437.0.jpeg)
At the start of this game, UCLA struggled to score for the first all season. The Bruins only made three of the first ten field goal attempts. As a result of UCLA’s poor shooting, the Buckeyes were able to tie the score at 11 with 14:15 to go in the first half.
Over the next four minutes, there would be three ties and Ohio State would take the lead three times. Their largest lead was 4 at 20-16.
That’s when the Bruins would take advantage of a 7-0 to retake the lead. Isaac Hamilton made a layup to cut the Ohio State lead to 2 and Lonzo Ball would hit a three to retake the lead for the Bruins. Ike Anigbogu’s jumper completed the run and gave UCLA a 23-20 lead. But the Buckeyes kept it close and Keita Bates-Diop would take back the lead with 6:40 to go in the half.
Aaron Holiday hit a three off a pass from Isaac Hamilton to make it 28-26 but the Buckeyes answered with a Marc Loving jumper to tie it up again at 28-28.
Holiday responded by hitting another three to give the Bruins the lead for good with five and a half minutes to go. Both teams would add 9 more points a piece to head into the locker room with the score UCLA 40, Ohio State 37.
The Bruins played a much better second half. They came out of the locker room on fire and stretched their lead to 7 in the first 1:40 of the second half. Ohio State answered with a three from JaQuan Lyle to cut it back to a 4-point lead.
That’s when UCLA went on a 12-2 run to make it 56-42 with 15:42 to go. For the rest of the game, the closest Ohio State would get would be six points twice, but, after Jae'Sean Tate’s layup with 7:12 to go, they would get no closer.
Bryce Alford and Aaron Holiday led all scorers with 20 points each. Isaac Hamilton and TJ Leaf added 17 points and 13 points, respectively. Lonzo Ball finished with 8 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists, just missing a triple-double for the second consecutive game.
UCLA now appears poised to finish the non-conference schedule undefeated as their last game before conference play is at home against the Western Michigan Broncos whose basketball team is just 3-6 and clearly has not been playing like their football team.
Go Bruins!