UCLA picks up signature win over No. 4 Purdue

UCLA picked up their biggest win of the season on Tuesday night. As they beat No. 4 Purdue 69-67 who were 17-1 and playing great basketball. The Bruins locked in defensively and held the Boilermakers to 45% shooting from the field and 7-27 from 3-point range. UCLA shot 57% from the field themselves and used a late Tyler Bilodeau 3-pointer with eight seconds left to win. This is the type of performance that the team has been looking for all season. They can now try and build off of this as they look to make a run in the Big Ten.

Donovan Dent broke out with a 23 point and 13 assist performance. The type of game that the Bruins have been looking for from him. Ever since he came over as a transfer from New Mexico. He led the floor very well and was able to get almost anything he wanted. The Bruins starters scored all 69 points in the game as their inconsistencies in bench play continue. But possibly when Skyy Clark returns that can be fixed in some sort of way.

A big difference on the night in a two-point win was blocked shots. The Bruins blocked eight while the Boilermakers only blocked one. That included three from Xavier Booker and three from Dent. The team also had a slight advantage in points in the paint and fast break points. When the margin is so small in a game, every possession matters and it shows for UCLA in this upset win. Purdue can score the ball with the best of them and holding them to 67 points is a phenomenal defensive effort.

UCLA now sits at 13-6 on the season as they continue to navigate the Big Ten schedule. This was the second-best opponent they will play the rest of the season behind Michigan. They now have that signature win on their resume as they look to climb back into contention. The team has had a roller coaster year, but maybe this is the time they build the consistency they’ve needed. Now it is time to keep it up.