Replacing your leading scorer, who doubles as the conference’s top marksman from long range, is a tall order. Now take away your playmaking engine, and it becomes like scaling Mt. Everest.
With Tyler Bilodeau already sidelined with a knee strain, the sixth-seeded Bruins lost point guard Donovan Dent in the first half and fell 73-66 to seventh-seeded Purdue in Saturday’s Big Ten Conference semifinal at the United Center in Chicago.
“Extremely proud of my team, down two great players, but we’ve got other great players. They came up with a valiant, valiant effort today. Couldn’t be more proud of them,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said, noting that Trent Perry played all 40 minutes and Eric Dailey Jr. played 34 while also lauding the efforts of reserves Brandon Williams, Steve Jamerson and Eric Freeny.
“Those three guys in particular off the bench probably didn’t play a combined 10 minutes against Purdue last time we played them. Like I said, just really proud of my guys.”
After UCLA guard Skyy Clark’s long jumper opened the scoring, Purdue scored 15 unanswered points. The Bruins gathered themselves and went on their own 15-2 run, tying the game at 17 on Xavier Booker’s 3-pointer with 7:06 left in the half.
UCLA (23-11) did part of that without Dent, who left the game about midway through the first half with an apparent calf injury and the Bruins trailing 15-9.
Dent did not return, with UCLA coach Mick Cronin telling CBS’ Tracy Wolfson at halftime that it “was not worth the risk,” with a nod to next week’s NCAA Tournament. Two days earlier, the senior from Centennial High in Corona made Big Ten history with the first triple-double in conference tournament history in a 72-59 victory over Rutgers.
“Obviously it was a different prep for us because a lot of what we prepared for was with Donovan Dent being in the game. That’s a big piece of what they do. It’s what they run. It’s how they spread you out. They play high ball screen. They play pick-and-roll. They space it and attack you, and a lot of that is predicated on his ability to break people down,” Purdue coach Matt Painter said. “So the fact that he got hurt and he was out of the game, that changed the game. I know it was a close game. We never really separated from them. You have to give them credit. It really shows the resiliency and the toughness of UCLA to not have their best two guys in Bilodeau and Donovan Dent and to go out there and compete.
“I think they’ve got a chance to really make a good run in the NCAA Tournament. They have really good pieces if they can get Bilodeau and Dent back, that really helps.”
Bilodeau left Friday’s third-round upset of No. 8 Michigan State late in the first half after falling and holding his right knee. The All-Big Ten third-teamer came into the tournament averaging 18 points a game and leading the conference with 46.2% accuracy (60 for 130) from 3-point range.
The 6-foot-9 senior was diagnosed with a mild strain, with expectations that he will be available for the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins will learn their fate – their seeding, destination and first-round opponent – when the tournament brackets are revealed at 3 p.m. PT Sunday.
Perry led UCLA with 15 points and nine assists. Booker scored 12 points. Dailey added 11 points and 10 rebounds and Clark had 10 points and four steals.
Purdue 6-foot-11 center Oscar Cluff took advantage of a significant size advantage and finished with game highs of 17 points and 14 rebounds.
Jack Benter’s 3-pointer before the buzzer gave the Boilermakers a 34-27 halftime lead. Fletcher Loyer kicked off the second half with a couple of deep 3-pointers and suddenly, in just 43 seconds, UCLA found itself trailing by 13.
The Bruins refused to go away. Clark’s steal and breakaway layup, followed by a 3-pointer, capped a 9-0 run and cut the deficit to 58-57 with 6:14 to play.
Perry’s floater in the lane tied it at 60 with 4:33 on the clock and a Williams slam tied it at 62 with 3:41 left.
UCLA, however, couldn’t contain Cluff, who delivered in the post and on the boards to help the Boilermakers outscore the Bruins 11-4 down the stretch.
Purdue (26-8) will play top-seeded Michigan (31-2), a 68-65 winner over fifth-seeded Wisconsin in Saturday’s earlier semifinal. Big Ten Player of the Year Yaxel Lendeborg’s 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left propelled the No. 3 Wolverines (31-2) into the conference title game at 12:30 PT Sunday.
