From an existential crisis to a gritty comeback, UCLA experienced a wide range of emotions over the course of just a few hours Saturday night. The final sentiment, however, was one of disappointment.
After erasing what had once been a 24-point deficit to just four with a little more than three minutes remaining, the Bruins couldn’t find the miracle finish they desperately sought. No. 25 Iowa ultimately won 74-61 inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, holding off UCLA by executing the plays they needed down the final foul-filled stretch. The Hawkeyes made all eight of their free throws in the closing minutes, while the Bruins were unable to get the stops required—even with point guard Donovan Dent putting on a dazzling offensive display, finishing with 25 points.
The turning point came late when Iowa’s Tavion Banks powered in a transition dunk to extend the lead back to double digits in the final minute, effectively ending UCLA’s comeback hopes. Adding to the blow, Iowa point guard Bennett Stirtz drained a 30-foot three-pointer in the final seconds for good measure. Stirtz finished with 27 points, leading the Hawkeyes (12-2, 2-1 Big Ten) who shot 46.8% from the field to UCLA’s 44.6%.
Despite a much-improved effort in the second half, UCLA (10-4 overall, 2-1 Big Ten) was not nearly good enough on either end of the court. The Bruins will now have to decide whether to continue relying on a small lineup, as they did to spark their huge comeback.
Following one of the poorest first halves of the Mick Cronin era—coming off a 10-day layoff—UCLA looked transformed in the second half. Inspired by the rally towels inside the arena emblazoned with the slogan “Impose Your Will,” the Bruins went on an 18-2 run early in the half after shifting to a smaller lineup. They broke out a full-court press in pockets and drained seven of eight shots during the surge.
Donovan Dent was at the center of the comeback, snagging steals that led to Brandon Williams dunks, driving for layups, and hitting a mid-range jumper. When Trent Perry poked the ball away for a steal and finished with a transition layup, UCLA was within 47-42 with 10:44 left, forcing Iowa to call a timeout.
However, a major setback loomed as guard Skyy Clark left the game with a hamstring injury and did not return for the rest of the contest.
The first half could hardly have gone worse for the Bruins. Their struggles began with an inability to finish at the rim—marked by several missed point-blank opportunities, including two misses from Tyler Bilodeau, a blocked Xavier Booker layup, and a Dent lob that was deflected and stolen—all within the first five minutes.
Equally troubling was UCLA’s defense. The Bruins allowed Iowa’s perimeter players to find open looks on drive-and-dish plays, resulting in a flurry of three-pointers. Mick Cronin was visibly frustrated down by 23 points late in the half, to the point of removing his suit jacket and sternly reprimanding Perry during a timeout. UCLA did manage to score the final five points of the half but still trailed 40-22 at halftime.
Heading into the game, questions surrounded UCLA’s big men, defense, and rebounding. Tyler Bilodeau, who started the season as the starting power forward, had increasingly shifted back to center in recent games within a three-guard lineup. This move yielded offensive advantages, as Bilodeau could outmaneuver slower opponents without sacrificing defensive capabilities, especially given the struggles of Xavier Booker and the ongoing foul trouble of Steven Jamerson.
More worrisome, however, was UCLA’s defense, ranked among the worst of Cronin’s seven seasons at Westwood. Most defensive problems emerged around the rim, where the Bruins provided little resistance on the easiest of shots. Additionally, UCLA entered the game ranked third-to-last in the Big Ten in rebounding.
None of these issues were resolved Saturday, leaving the Bruins with much to contemplate as they consider potential adjustments moving forward.
https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/story/2026-01-03/uclas-late-surge-cant-erase-dismal-start-in-loss-iowa