Ohio State faced off against UCLA on Sunday but fell short in a 69-61 loss at Paulie Pavilion. The Bruins, known for their strong defense, held Ohio State to just 61 points, with Eric Daly Jr. leading UCLA with 20 points. Ohio State’s Bruce Thornton was the standout player for his team, scoring 21 points, but lacked support, with only one other teammate, Mika Parrish, reaching double digits with 12 points.
The game started off sluggishly, with both teams shooting poorly in the first half; Ohio State shot 27.3% and UCLA 32.4%, resulting in a low-scoring first half that ended 28-24 in favor of UCLA. In the second half, UCLA extended their lead thanks to a strong start, with Daly contributing significantly. Although Ohio State managed to make several runs to keep the score close, they could never overcome the Bruins, who maintained a lead throughout the half.
Next, Ohio State will play against USC on Wednesday in their second game of the Los Angeles trip. The article notes that UCLA has received 56 votes in the latest AP poll, making it the third-highest among unranked teams. Additionally, both teams faced challenges with illness, which may have impacted performance, particularly for Ohio State, who played without key player Aaron Bradshaw. The victory marked the 500th career win for UCLA head coach Mick Cronin.
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