Rutgers weathered a late run to send visiting UCLA to its fourth consecutive loss in a 75-68 decision on Monday in Piscataway, New Jersey.
After trailing the entire first half, the Scarlet Knights (9-8, 2-4 Big Ten Conference) came out of intermission on fire with a quick, 8-0 run. The surge gave Rutgers a lead that, with the exception of a brief 41-41 tie, it held throughout the second half.
But when Lathan Sommerville committed a turnover on a possession when it had an opportunity to pull ahead by a double-digit-point margin, UCLA (11-6, 2-4) capitalized with an 8-0 run.
Kobe Johnson hit a 3-pointer with 2:07 remaining in regulation that pulled the Bruins to within 63-62. That was UCLA’s last gasp, as Rutgers quickly responded when Ace Bailey connected on a 3-pointer the very next possession.
Bailey posted game-highs of 20 points and 10 rebounds and shot 5-of-5 from the free-throw line on a night that the Scarlet Knights went 21-of-31 from the charity stripe. Their ability to draw fouls played a key role in the win.
Bailey’s fellow freshman standout Dylan Harper added 18 points and helped spark the run coming out of halftime when he hit two 3-pointers. Rutgers shot just 2-of-11 from deep in the first half, but with Harper knocking down two and Tyson Acuff adding another, the Scarlet Knights hit their first three attempts from beyond the arc after the break.
Jeremiah Williams added 11 points off the bench, with no two bigger than his double-clutch layup with 51 seconds remaining. He drove to the basket and used the rim to shield his attempt, swooping from one side to the other to finish the show and put the game away.
Eric Dailey Jr. and Sebastian Mack led UCLA with 16 points each. Mack came off the bench and gave the Bruins a boost on both offense and defense, particularly with season-long leading scorer Tyler Bilodeau struggling.
Bilodeau scored six points but shot 0-for-7 from the floor. Johnson finished with 13 points, but had seven in the game’s opening minutes before getting into foul trouble. He was limited until the closing stretch.
–Field Level Media
