Dylan Andrews sank two clutch free throws with four seconds remaining to help UCLA avoid a late-game collapse in a 72-68 win over Indiana on Friday in Bloomington, Ind.
The Bruins (19-7, 10-5 Big Ten) led for the entire second half and more than 34 minutes overall, but the Hoosiers’ Mackenzie Mgbako missed a 3-point attempt from the corner that could have given Indiana the lead with six seconds left.
UCLA, which led by 10 points with 6:17 to go, bounced back from a Tuesday loss at Illinois that ended a seven-game winning streak. Indiana had halted a five-game slide with a victory at No. 11 Michigan State on Tuesday.
The Hoosiers (15-11, 6-9) fell behind by 13 points in the first half on Friday, giving up back-to-back 3-pointers to Kobe Johnson and Lazar Stefanovic and six of Aday Mara’s eight points over a pivotal stretch.
The spurt gave UCLA the advantage it maintained throughout the second half, but the Hoosiers chipped away at the deficit. Indiana’s Luke Goode scored 14 of his game-high 16 points after intermission, while Malik Reneau came off the bench to contribute 14 points, 11 in the second half.
Reneau converted a three-point play when he was fouled by Trent Perry on a layup with 53 seconds to go, bringing the Hoosiers within a one-possession margin for the first time in the half, 70-68.
Indiana forced Sebastian Mack to take a contested shot, which he missed. UCLA’s Skyy Clark got the offensive rebound but was stripped by Anthony Leal, giving the Hoosiers possession with 31 seconds remaining.
Myles Rice missed a pull-up jumper and Mgbako missed a point-blank put-back attempt, but the ball went off a UCLA player to give Indiana a baseline inbounds pass for a chance to tie or take the lead. Mgbako got open for a look at a corner 3-pointer, but it caromed off.
Andrews grabbed the rebound in traffic and calmly sank both ensuing foul shots to seal the win. Andrews finished with six points.
All 10 UCLA players who saw the floor scored. Tyler Bilodeau led the balanced Bruins effort with 12 points, Clark added 11 and Johnson had 10 points with six rebounds.
Mgbako scored 14 points for Indiana.
–Field Level Media
