UCLA Bruins keep NCAA tournament hopes alive with thrilling Tyus Edney like buzzer beater

UCLA went into their matchup with No. 10 Illinois on Saturday night, basically needing a win to keep any hopes of the NCAA tournament alive. Moving to 17-10 on the season and 2-8 in quad 1 play was not an option. This team has hopes of playing March Madness basketball. That hope is now still alive as they pulled off the upset in a thrilling 95-94 win. Capped off by a game-winning basket by Donovan Dent at the buzzer as he went full court for a layup. Who had 14 points and 15 assists on the night.

Dent redeemed himself after having a chance to win it in regulation. His 3-point shot before the buzzer was off and the game went to overtime. This is a big-time win on the big stage for the Bruins. 18-9 sounds much better than 17-10 and 3-7 in quad 1 sounds much better than 2-8. The Bruins needed things to fall their way, and, in the end, it came down to one second and they were able to get the win. The team shot 51% on the night and 39% from 3-point range.

The Bruins were led in scoring by Eric Dailey Jr. who had his best game of the season with 20 points. All five starters scored in double digits the best performance of the night came from Xavier Booker off the bench. He was 7-8 from the field for 16 big points. A game resembling the one he had against Rutgers. This time doing so on the biggest stage possible. With the Bruins season on the line. The team dug deep and deserved this win.

UCLA at 18-9 will now play on the road against Minnesota. Before heading back home with a matchup with No. 9 Nebraska. Hopefully this can be a spark plug for them heading into the Big Ten tournament. Trent Perry continued to play great basketball with 17 points. Tyler Bilodeau also had 18 on the night. While the Bruins did an excellent job in containing potential lottery pick Keaton Wagler to 5-15 shooting for 19 points. Well done, Bruins!