UCLA Bruins Overcome Creighton Bluejays in a Close Encounter at Pauley Pavilion
The UCLA Bruins, ranked 6th, edged out the 24th-ranked Creighton Bluejays with a final score of 67-63. The Bruins now hold an impressive record of 26-4, while the Bluejays stand at 20-11 after this encounter.
In a game that saw five lead changes and was tied five times, the UCLA Bruins demonstrated resilience and strategic execution on their home court at Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins' offense was spearheaded by their ability to convert two-point attempts with a solid shooting percentage of 53 percent from inside the arc. They also capitalized on second-chance opportunities, amassing 14 points from such plays.
Defensively, the Bruins were formidable under the rim, pulling down a total of 40 rebounds compared to the Bluejays' 22. This included an impressive haul of defensive rebounds by UCLA with a count of 26 which helped limit Creighton's scoring chances. On top of that, they managed to block two shots over the course of play.
Despite committing more turnovers than their opponents (13 for UCLA against seven for Creighton), the Bruins made up for it with higher efficiency in free throws making an outstanding 86 percent from the line which contributed significantly to their narrow victory margin.
The visiting Bluejays put up a valiant fight throughout all four quarters. They shot well from beyond the arc hitting seven three-pointers at an accuracy rate of about 44 percent and maintained strong ball distribution as evidenced by their assist-to-turnover ratio standing at approximately 2.43.
Creighton's performance in paint was notable as well; they scored about half their points there but struggled in later stages only managing seven points in the fourth quarter which ultimately cost them momentum and possibly even victory.
As fans look ahead, they can anticipate another exciting matchup when UCLA takes on LSU Tigers next week. The upcoming game is scheduled for March30th at MVP Arena located in Albany NY where supporters can catch live action starting around noon PT on various sports networks.