UCLA -men Basketball Defeating No. 16 Oregon to Fifth Equal Victory

They are back to full strength. They get excellent guard games. They optimize lineups that now include a particular Spanish 7-foot.

The night when Tyler Bilodeau returned from an ankle injury, and Aday Mara continued to play big minutes, UCLA Showing showed right how formidable they can be.

What was supposed to be a showdown turned into a route, Bruins surpassed a national -ranked team on their home ground.

UCLA was better everywhere Thursday night during a 78-52 Victory Over No. 16 Oregon before the most violent and valued crowd of the season at Pauley Pavilion.

Fans were on their feet and roaring after Mara threw a marketing market reminiscent of the legendary predecessor Bill Walton to Eric Daily Jr. for a vicious one -handed dunk. Bruins was up with 27 points and everyone wearing blue and gold could dream of the possibilities of a team that seemed lifeless as late as 2½ weeks ago.

Now look at them.

Bruins (16-6 overall, 7-4 Big Ten) have won five games in a row and have gone 6-0 against their old PAC-12 rivals, including a non-conference triumph over Arizona.

Diley led the road with 21 points on eight-for-nine shooting, Point Guard Dylan Andrews added 15 points without hint of cramp questions that sidelined him in the last five minutes against USC and Bilodeau had 15 after missing most of the last two Play because of his sprained ankle.

“He was as good as you could be offensive,” said UCLA coach Mick Cronin about Dailey, who made all three of his three-Pointers and both his free kick.

Bruins won so comfortably that a good part of the quantity of 9,288 left before the final minute to beat the traffic when Cronin deployed a number of reserves. Trent Perry delivered one last highlight as he threw a lob to William Kyle III for a can.

Cronin spent several minutes thereafter praising Dailey for his work ethics and said Oklahoma State transfer moved to Los Angeles a month before the start of summer school and spent two hours a day in the gym.

“Eric Dailey spends more time in the gym on his shooting,” said Cronin, “and he is the most dedicated guy I have ever coached on his diet, his rest, his commitment to what he tries to achieve in basketball, and It pays from for him. “

Diley has made 54.2% of his shots this season – only topped by Kyle’s 71.4% and Maras 62.5%, both on significantly fewer attempts – after Cronin advised the other to keep his head quiet when he shoots and Gets more bow on the ball. No one has matched Diley’s hours logged in to the gym.

“Always been the type of player since high school,” Dailey said of his routine. “Something that works for me – just being consistent in the gym, doing the same every day, must not be anything crazy, but just watching the ball go through the net.”

Oregon had no response to UCLA’s effective violation and merciless defense despite a short flurry to open the second half. The ducks (16-5, 5-5) attacked aggressively curve and cut what had been a 17-point deficit to 10 on TJ Bamba’s driving lineup.

But a turning point came when Mara rejected another running set up of Bamba and Kobe Johnson came with a steal in backcourt and forced Ducks coach Dana Altman to bend and place his hands on his knees in anguish. Johnson then drove and went to Mara for a dunk and triggered a 12-4 race that essentially ended Oregon’s hope for a comeback.

The decibels rose to their highest point after Mara’s outlets.

“It shows Adays IQ right there, just being able to look at the floor as soon as you get the ball,” said Dailey. “So shout to Aday for it.”

Center Nate Bittle scored 13 points for the ducks shot 41.2% to Bruins ’55, 6% and got virtually nothing from Guard Jackson Shelstad, their second-leading goal scorer, closed by UCLA-College Skyy Clark (five assists, four rebounds) and others. Shelstad took only two shots and finished scoreless with four rebounds and two assists.

Mara ended with seven points, three blocks, three rebounds and three assists in 20 effective minutes, with spending extending with either Bilodeau or Dailey as part of what may be Bruins’ best lineup.

UCLA played some of her best defense of the season building a 40-26 break lead, Bruins had the duck scoreless for more than 5½ minutes at one point. Pauley Pavilion rocked in the last seconds before the break after Mara’s block of a shot of Brandon Angel triggered a quick break that ended in a Johnson lineup.

Bilodeau quickly announced his return when he only made a three-pointer, just 13 seconds into the game, and Dailey helped his team to build a double-digit lead by doing his first five shots.

“He was a backbreaker when it was still a game,” Cronin said. “He broke their backs several times with his shots.”

Mara continued her role as a growing fan favorite spinning around the Supreme Cook for a can and making a mistake on Cook under Oregon’s next possession after Cook tried to push Mara out of the way for a rebound.

There was no stopped the big man, or his team, in one evening all came together.

“We’re getting better,” said Dailey, “and I think we’re going to reach the right time.”