UCLA Bruins Dominate Rutgers Scarlet Knights
In a commanding performance on Tuesday night in Los Angeles, the UCLA Bruins dominated the Rutgers Scarlet Knights with a final score of 98-66. Xavier Booker was the standout star for UCLA, achieving a personal best with 24 points while showcasing an impressive shooting efficiency, hitting 10 of his 11 attempts from the field and all four of his three-pointers.
Game Overview
The Bruins, now holding a record of 16 wins and 7 losses along with 8 victories out of 12 in Big Ten play, came into this game seeking redemption after recently suffering a narrow double-overtime defeat against Indiana, which snapped a three-game winning streak.
Supporting Booker’s impressive outing, Donovan Dent recorded a notable double-double, contributing 13 points and dishing out 11 assists. Tyler Bilodeau also played a significant role, scoring 19 points, including three from beyond the arc. Additionally, Eric Dailey Jr. and Trent Perry added 13 and 10 points, respectively, to the mix. Overall, UCLA shot a remarkable 56% from the field and an even higher 57% from three-point range, while also capitalizing on free throws, hitting 16 of 18 attempts.
Rutgers Performance
On the opposing side, Rutgers struggled, with Kaden Powers being the highlight for the Scarlet Knights. He scored all of his 18 points in the first half, sinking three three-pointers. Tariq Francis and Lino Mark contributed 12 and 10 points, respectively, but the Scarlet Knights, now 9-14 with a disappointing 2-10 in league play, have fallen into a six-game losing streak.
Turning Point
The game turned in favor of UCLA when Booker scored on a hook shot, giving his team a 21-19 lead that they would not relinquish. The Bruins finished the first half strong, ending it with an 8-2 run to lead 52-40. In the second half, a dunk by Dailey extended UCLA’s lead to 64-43 early on, and later, the team went on a 15-0 run that pushed their advantage to 91-58 with just over four minutes left in the game. Interestingly, Powers, who had been on fire in the first half, was unable to score in the second half, going 0 for 3 from the field.
Looking Ahead
Both teams will look to rebound in their upcoming games, with Rutgers set to face No. 9 Nebraska at home on Saturday, while UCLA will host Washington on the same day.
