Lexington, Ky. – Skyy Clark and Eric Dailey Jr. scored 14 points and sown No. 7 UCLA defeated Utah State from Utah 72-47 on Thursday night to reach the second round of the NCAA tournament for the fourth time in five seasons.
Aday Mara, a 3-inch 7-foot reservation center, added 10 points for the Bruins of coach Mick Cronin (23-10), who will face Tennessee from the second seed on Saturday in the west media region while looking for their fourth Sweet 16 appearance in the last five editions of March Madness. The volunteers also achieved an easy victory, 77-62 about Wofford.
Mason Falslev scored 17 points and Deyton Albury had 12 for the state of Utah (26-8), which reached his third consecutive NCAA tournament, this time under Jarod Calhoun, the third coach of the Aggies in that period.
UCLA broke the game by holding the Mountain West school only two free throws in a 12-2 race for an advantage of 39-27 in the half time. Then, the Bruins had an increase of 17-7 at the beginning of the second half to build an advantage of 20 points.
The Bruins ended 48% from the field after firing 55% in the first half. They made 10 of 24 triples, eight of 10 players scored, and had 22 assists in 26 baskets.
“The boys simply did a great job,” Cronin said. “And it helped us to have three days because, against a defense of the confrontation zone, you have to score when passing and cut. You can’t drip you. They will steal the ball. So the boys simply did a great job.”
Utah’s state shot 30% while committing 11 ball losses, which led to 20 UCLA points.
“I thought about the first half, they shots,” Calhoun said. “Both at this time of the year it is about shooting, right? And when you don’t shoot, it affects your defense.”
Calhoun, an assistant of West Virginia under Bob Huggins, has been mentioned as a possible candidate for The mountaineer training vacancy. He did not approach that speculation and only said that the athletic director of the state of Utah had “offered a great opportunity”, Diana Sabau, and the staff “in the last 24 hours”, without being specific.
“I think the state of Utah can win a national championship,” he said, after previous comments that indicate that the school raises $ 1 million for payments of name, image and likeness to the athletes. “I wouldn’t say that if I didn’t believe it.”
UCLA Sebastian Mack’s guard left the second half with what Cronin said it was an injury to groin. The Bruins were safe by then, but remained aggressive to keep an offensive that occupied 14 in the country in shooting at almost 49%.
“If you just let them return to the game, they will do it,” Clark said. “And so, just do everything possible to try to get them out of the rhythm and not let them execute their offensive, that was the key.”
Utah state: the Aggies surpassed UCLA 17-10 at second chance points, 28-22 in the painting and 16-9 in the break. None of that could compensate 4 of 31 3 -point shots.
UCLA: The Bruins won their 12 of 16 games making sure that everyone was involved. Dylan Andrews had eight assists and eight points, while Kobe Johnson also scored eight. UCLA surpassed Utah State 38-35 in the glass, including the advantage of 29-19 at the defensive end.
UCLA will face Tennessee for the second time and more than 48 years after beating the VOLS 103-89 in Atlanta under Gene Bartow. Cronin was not totally happy with the Bruins’ effort, but added: “We have been preparing all year to play on Saturday.”
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