Tuesday, October 14, 2025

UCLA Overcomes Injury to Beat Utah State

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Introduction to March Madness

UCLA’s Road to Victory

This was the desire last spring, when Mick Cronin reassembled his roster to gird it for any possibility in the games that matter most. A player is sidelined by injury. Another is limited by foul trouble. A third is having an off night. No matter what happened, or who was doing what, UCLA would have a stockpile of players who could get the job done. And if everyone happened to play well on the same night? Well, that’s just a bonus.

Overcoming Adversity

Aday Mara’s Injury Scare

The Bruins enjoyed that sort of bonanza in their NCAA tournament opener Thursday night, withstanding an injury scare to Aday Mara to win so comfortably that walk-on Jack Seidler was able to dribble out the final seconds to cheers inside Rupp Arena. There was more fun in the locker room after seventh-seeded UCLA walloped 10th-seeded Utah State, 72-47, in a first-round game in the Midwest Region, its seven players making their tournament debuts showing steady resolve.

Team Performance

Key Players and Statistics

Mara, who threw what might have been the game’s best pass to teammate Skyy Clark for a dunk and finished with 10 points, six rebounds, five blocks and two assists in just 20 minutes, joked about the assists he lost because teammates couldn’t complete the play. “That one was my favorite,” Mara said of his assist to Clark, “because I threw the lob to E-Day [Eric Dailey Jr.] and he missed it and then this guy right here, he missed a layup too.” Mara was referring to roommate Lazar Stefanovic, who happened to be walking by inside the locker room. Stefanovic cracked up, buoyed by his teammate’s humor and his team’s ball movement. UCLA had 22 assists on its 26 baskets to go with lock-down defense on the way to forging a showdown against second-seeded Tennessee on Saturday at 6:40 p.m. PDT.

Game Highlights

Utah State vs. UCLA

Utah State guard Mason Falslev, left, and UCLA guard Kobe Johnson battle for a loose ball during the second half Thursday.
(Brynn Anderson / Associated Press)
The key sequence for the Bruins (23-10) came early in the second half. Mara, who had been pulverizing the Aggies (26-8) on both ends of the court, rolled his left ankle and limped to the end of the bench while trainer Tyler Lesher tended to his injury. What did the Bruins do for the next five minutes with their biggest difference-maker sidelined? They increased an 11-point lead to 20.

Defense and Strategy

Cronin’s Game Plan

“Defensive effort was awesome,” Cronin said. “Their spirit and their mind to be a great defensive team tonight just took Utah State out of their comfort zone. And uncomfortable teams shoot a low percentage.” There were even more encouraging developments to come. Mara put a support wrap on his ankle and returned before UCLA closed out the Aggies with relative ease, the final minutes not resembling any late-game letdowns from earlier in the season. Dailey pushed through first-half foul trouble to score 12 of his 14 points in the second half.

Conclusion

UCLA’s victory over Utah State marked a significant win in the NCAA tournament, showcasing the team’s depth and resilience. With Mara’s injury scare and subsequent return, the Bruins demonstrated their ability to adapt and overcome adversity. As they move forward in the tournament, this win will serve as a confidence booster and a testament to Cronin’s ability to rebuild his roster.

FAQs

Q: Who was the leading scorer for UCLA in the game against Utah State?
A: Mara finished with 10 points, while Dailey scored 14 points.
Q: What was the final score of the game?
A: UCLA won 72-47 against Utah State.
Q: What is UCLA’s next game in the NCAA tournament?
A: UCLA will face second-seeded Tennessee on Saturday at 6:40 p.m. PDT.

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