UCLA Outshot by BYU; Loses 78-63

Tonight in Maui, the BYU Cougars outplayed the UCLA Bruins in just about every facet of the game as the Cougars defeated the Bruins, 78-63.

UCLA managed to keep things close until the final ten minutes, even though BYU pretty much had the lead the entire game. In fact, the Bruins led the game for just over five-and-a-half minutes compared to more than 30 minutes for BYU.

The Cougars shot 50% from three-point range for the game and 62% from the field. Heck, BYU even shot 87.5% from the line in this one. Meanwhile, UCLA shot just 35.7% from three, 45.5% from the field and 53.3% from the line.

BYU’s Jake Toolson led all scorers with 20 while Jules Bernard led the Bruins with 16.

While the Bruins outrebounded the Cougars overall, BYU grabbed 20 boards on defense to UCLA’s 14. Defensively, it was not an effort that Coach Cronin will likely be very pleased with given that the Bruins turned the ball over just 13 times and they committed 13 of their own.

But, the biggest indictment of the Bruin defense in this game was the fact that BYU torched UCLA with their shooting.

It shows how much further the Bruins need to go despite some early success they’ve had under Mick Cronin.

The loss sends the Bruins to the consolation bracket where UCLA will face Chaminade at 2 pm PT on Tuesday.


Go Bruins.