13 Jan 2025; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; UCLA BRUINS ACCESS Eric Dailey Jr. (3) dribbles during the first half against Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Jersey Mike’s Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Pictures UCLA has appeared from an ugly stretch to put together an impressive winning line.
After losing five of six matches, the Bruins look to record their fifth victory in a row when they are worth No. 16 Oregon on Thursday evening in Big Ten Play on Los Angeles.
Bruins (15-6, 6-4) has beaten Iowa, then no. 18 Wisconsin, Washington and Southern California during their winning line.
They hope that the tough times – that range includes losses to Nebraska, Maryland and Rutgers – is behind them.
“We got tired of losing, honestly,” said Ucla guard Eric Dailey Jr. to reporters. “We got tired of people talking about us, talking about how we play and things and the media and all that.
“So when we got tired of it, we just came together as a team and just said:” We will just accumulate. “That’s what we’ve done in recent games, and we just have to keep going.”
The latest victory was Monday night’s victory 82-76 over host Southern California. Dailey got 16 points and Sebastian Mack added 14.
But the biggest contribution came from 7-foot-3 Aday Mara, who had 12 points, gathered a career-high 11 returns and matched her career best by five blocked shots.
“His confidence goes up, and he has already gained talent and size,” Dailey said about Mara, as an average of 15.3 points in the last three games. “So when you gain confidence that no one can stop you it’s scary.”
Production from Mara may once again be necessary with Bruin’s point leader this season, Tyler Bilodeau (13.9 points per match), still breastfeeding an ankle damage. Bilodeau was injured in the opening minutes from Friday’s 65-60 road victory over Washington and set out against Southern California.
Dailey (12.0) and Sebastian Mack (10.4) also on average in double -digit figures in points for Bruins.
UCLA beat Oregon 73-71 on December 8 in Eugene when Dylan Andrews knocked in a 3-point with 0.4 seconds left in the game. Dailey scored 19 points to put on Bruins. Nate Bittle had 22 points and 10 returns to lead the ducks, which was 9-0 who participated in that competition.
Oregon (16-4, 5-4) has hit some bumps, with two losses in the last three matches, including Saturday’s 77-69 setbacks to host Minnesota.
The ducks hit 26-8 only seven plus minutes into the competition.
Oregon came back into the match and even went ahead during the second half before Golden Gophers prevailed.
“I think our guys feel that if we can stay after that, we can find a way to pull out a game,” said Ducks coach Dana Altman afterwards. “That’s the experience. We’ve pulled out some, so our guys, they don’t panic. They feel we can get something done if we drive and get some stops.”
Brandon Angel scored 18 points and Tj Bamba and Jackson Shelstad each had 15 for Oregon.
However, Bittle (team -leading 12.9 points per match) went goal -free and took only three shots in 24 minutes.
Shelstad (12.7) and Bamba (10.4) also on average in double numbers in points for Oregon, which was excessive 35-26 by Golden Gophers.
“We got nine on the boards,” Altman said. “I said I went into the game, we had to hit them on the boards. We got nine-11-0 on other chance points. We had some bad turnover and some questionable pictures, but all we got back the game gave us a chance, but 11-0 other chance points and minus-nio on the boards just won’t win you many games.
UCLA’s victory last month was its fifth in the last seven meetings with the ducks.
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