UCLA defeats Utah State, advances to face Tennessee

UCLA defeated Utah State 72-47 in their first-round NCAA tournament game, showcasing strong performances from their players. Eric Dailey Jr. and Skyy Clark both scored 14 points. The game featured a challenging moment for UCLA when sophomore center Aday Mara rolled his left ankle but managed to return to the game. Despite Mara's injury scare, UCLA increased its lead in the second half with several key three-pointers from Clark and Kobe Johnson. Mara contributed 10 points, six rebounds, and five blocks in only 18 minutes of play. The Bruins showed improvement from their recent big loss to Wisconsin. The game highlighted UCLA's strong defense. They limited Utah State to just 30% shooting and excelled at closing out on three-point attempts, as the Aggies made only two out of 17 shots from beyond the arc. Utah's coach acknowledged the challenges posed by UCLA's Mara, who consistently impacts games when on the court. UCLA's halftime lead grew to 39-27, aided by Mara's effective play inside. Although Utah State struggled with rebounding, they managed to score some points off offensive rebounds. UCLA will next face second-seeded Tennessee in the tournament's second round on Sunday.