Dononvan Dent Channels Tyus Edney, Lifts Ucla To Stunning Ot Win Over No. 10 Illinois

After trailing by arsenic galore arsenic 23 points successful nan first half, Donovan Dent did his champion Tyus Edney belief — driving coast-to-coast for a game-winning layup successful overtime arsenic UCLA stunned No. 10 Illinois Saturday nighttime astatine Pauley Pavilion.

Bruins (17-9, 9-6 Big Ten) fans stormed nan tribunal arsenic officials reviewed and upheld nan buzzer beater that took down nan Illini (22-5, 13-3) by a last score of 95-94.

UCLA ne'er led by much than 5 points and fought done aggregate ties and lead changes to clinch nan signature, momentum-shifting victory.

The triumph was particularly important for nan Bruins’ NCAA Tournament chances aft they took 2 losses to No. 2 Michigan and No. 15 Michigan State connected a roadworthy travel past week. Illinois was nan 3rd Quadrant 1 force and 10th convention foe UCLA has beaten this play pinch 4 games near earlier nan Big Ten tourney tips off.

The Illini, known for their three-point shooting prowess, made 10 of their first 19 shots from beyond nan arc, heavy contributing to their 20-0 tally that spanned astir six minutes midway done nan first half. That shooting fell off, peculiarly early successful nan 2nd half, allowing UCLA’s comeback fueled by a double-double from Dent and a 20-point capacity from Eri Dailey Jr.

Illinois was besides ascendant connected nan glass, picking up 20 violative rebounds, creating second-chance opportunities that forced overtime and gave them a lead pinch 4 seconds remaining successful nan other period. However, nan Bruins’ overmuch stronger shooting percent astatine 51% compared to 41% for Illinois, coupled pinch Dent’s clutch thrust to nan handbasket were capable to springiness UCLA nan win.

Illinois’ Keaton Wagler drove to nan handbasket precocious successful nan 2nd half and was deed by Dailey, who fouled of nan contest. Wagler deed 2 free throws pinch 19 seconds near to necktie nan game. Dent past missed a 3 pointer pinch 1 2nd left, sending nan crippled to overtime.

The teams stayed wrong 2 points of each different successful overtime. Trent Perry deed 2 free throws pinch 16 seconds near to springiness UCLA a 93-92 lead.

UCLA guardant Xavier Booker celebrates pinch fans aft nan Bruins hit No. 10 Illinois Saturday astatine Pauley Pavilion.

(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)

Ben Humrichous missed a 3 pointer and Wagler tipped nan rebound successful to springiness Illinois a 94-93 lead pinch 4.9 seconds left.

After 2 timeouts, Dent took nan inbound connected nan near broadside of nan tribunal and drove nan magnitude of nan level earlier floating underneath 7-foot-2 Illinois halfway Zvonimir Ivisic to deed nan game-winning layup.

After some Dailey and erstwhile Illinois defender Skyy Clark fouled retired precocious successful nan game, UCLA guardant Tyler Bilodeau, who is averaging 18.1 points per crippled this season, took over. Bilodeau was held to 2 points successful nan first half, but he came live precocious to decorativeness pinch 18 points.

Behind Dailey and Bilodeau, Clark scored 10 points, Xavier Booker added 16 disconnected nan chair and Dent earned 15 of UCLA’s 21 assists to spell on pinch 14 points for his seventh double-double of nan season.

Next up for nan Bruins is simply a bout pinch crosstown rival USC connected Tuesday astatine 8 p.m. astatine Pauley Pavilion.