Hero Ball Can't Save UCLA From Loss to Utah 75-73

This was a game that mirrored the Bruins season.

The first half was a close, hard-fought half where Utah's biggest lead was only 1 point at two different times and UCLA's biggest lead was four points also at two different points.

The Utes didn't take a lead in this one until there was 7:43 to go in the half when Dakarai Tucker hit a three to give Utah a 19-18 lead. But the Bruins would go on a 11-7 mini-run to jump out to a 29-25 lead with just over three minutes to go.

The Utes would then finish the half on a 6-2 mini-run of their own and the game was tied 31-31 at the break.

The second half was a different story.

For the first two and a half minutes, it stayed close, but, then, Jordan Loveridge hit a three-pointer to give Utah a 39-36 lead which the Runnin' Utes would never relinquish.

Over the next six minutes, Utah would go on a 21-7 run to make the score 57-43.

With seven minutes to go and the score Utah 64, UCLA 50, the Bruins would try to mount a comeback. A 10-3 run was capped by an Aaron Holiday layup that made it 67-60 Utes with four and a half to go. After Loveridge made it a ten-point Utes' lead with a three, the Bruins would score the next eight points to close the gap to just two with two and a half minutes to play.

UCLA would not take another shot for the next minute and forty-five seconds and Loveridge nailed a three-pointer making it a five-point game with thirteen seconds to go.

The Bruins looked unprepared for the long pass from Dakarai Tucker to Kyle Kuzma which resulted in a dunk and made the score 75-70. While Aaron Holiday hit a buzz beater three to make it 75-73, it was too little, too late for UCLA who falls to 14-12 overall and 5-8 in the Pac-12.

Isaac Hamilton had another good game and led all scorers with 25 points while Jordan Loveridge led the Utes with 17 points. Jakob Poeltl managed 15 points after a terrible first half while grabbing 11 rebounds.

UCLA will host Colorado on Saturday at 8pm at Pauley Pavilion.

Go Bruins.