Men’s Basketball Halted by UCLA in Big Ten Tournament

Thursday, March 12

Chicago, Ill.

9:00 PM

Rutgers University

14-19,6-14Big Ten

UCLA

22-10,13-7Big Ten

Rutgers

UCLA

Men’s Basketball Halted by UCLA in Big Ten Tournament

Mar 12 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

CHICAGO – Rutgers men's basketball saw its Big Ten Tournament run come to an end at the United Center on Thursday evening. After defeating Minnesota on Wednesday night in their first conference tournament game, RU came back the next night and couldn't overcome a rested No. 6 seed UCLA team, falling 72-59. Rutgers fell to 14-19 overall, while UCLA improved to 22-10. Rutgers is 5-4 in the past nine games and 3-2 in the last five.

Lino Mark led RU with 17 points. It was his seventh game scoring in double-figures in the past 10 games. He added five rebounds and five assists. Darren Buchanan had nine points and nine rebounds, while Emmanuel Ogbole had eight points and five rebounds with two blocks. Tariq Francis took sole possession of fifth most free throws made in a single-season at RU with 152 and has the third best percentage (90.5%) from the free throw line in a single season.

Donovan Dent posted a triple-double for UCLA, the first in Big Ten Tournament history, as he had 12 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds. Tyler Bilodeau led UCLA with 21 points.

RU shot 37.9% and UCLA was at 38.3 percent, but the Bruins were 19-of-23 at the free throw line. UCLA had the edge in rebounds (40-30).

RU led for the lone time early on, at 4-0. In the early minutes, UCLA used runs of 11-0 and 7-0 for an 18-12 lead as RU started 4-13 from the field. The Scarlet Knights defense tightened from there, holding UCLA to 3-15 in the rest of the half.

At halftime, UCLA held a 30-24 lead. Each team shot 9-29 from the field in the first half, with UCLA taking advantage of 8-9 at the FT line. Harun Zrno was 3-3 from long range to lead RU with nine points at the break.

Coming out of halftime RU got back within one possession but UCLA had another run to go up double-digits. The teams continued to go back and forth through the second half. After UCLA reached double-digits, with an 16-15 scoreline in the 10 minutes after UCLA broached a 12-point lead, with the Bruins winning by a final margin of 13. UCLA advanced to face No. 3 seed Michigan State.

Gallery: (3-13-2026) MBB Takes on UCLA at BTT