Homefield — March Madness

UCFNo. 10

UCLANo. 7

FinalTBS

38.0%

38.7%

3PT

REB

AST

39.7%

28.6%

3PT

REB

AST

The 7-10 is March's other coin flip. 10-seeds have won 63 of 160 meetings (39.4%) -- nearly as volatile as the 8-9.

UCLA's Free Throw Edge Saves a Shaky Night

UCLA survived UCF 75-71, converting 12-of-16 free throws while holding UCF to a 5-of-16 mark from the stripe to offset being outrebounded by 12.

Eric Dailey Jr. was the steadiest thing about a UCLA offense that shot 39.7 percent and went 6-of-21 from three. His 20 points on 8-of-17 shooting came with two steals and two blocks in 32 minutes, and he was one of the few Bruins who looked comfortable creating against UCF's switching schemes.

Xavier Booker provided the most efficient 26 minutes on the floor: 15 points, 8 rebounds (3 offensive), and 4 blocks on 6-of-12 shooting, giving UCLA a legitimate interior presence that it leaned on heavily when the perimeter attack stalled. Trent Perry's 7-of-10 performance at the line added 15 points and kept UCLA's margin intact through a second half in which UCF outscored them 44-40.

The game turned on two numbers: turnovers and free throws. UCF's Themus Fulks committed 6 of the Knights' 17 turnovers, and UCLA converted those possessions into 13 steals -- by far the most decisive statistical gap in a game where both teams shot poorly. UCF had no answer for the turnover spiral, and when they needed the line to bail them out late, they made only 5 of 16 attempts, a 31.3 percent mark that negated every advantage they held on the glass.

Game Story

The UCLA Bruins edged the UCF Knights 75-71 in a tightly contested battle.•Jordan Burks led the charge with 22 points while also collecting 6 rebounds in a losing effort.•Eric Dailey Jr. answered with 20 points for the Bruins.•The Knights were hot from deep, draining 12 three-pointers at 38.7%.•Turnovers proved costly for UCF, who committed 17 compared to just 8 for UCLA.•UCF dominated the boards, out-rebounding UCLA 53-41.•UCLA protected the rim with 9 blocks.•The UCLA Bruins edged the UCF Knights 75-71 in a tightly contested battle.•Jordan Burks led the charge with 22 points while also collecting 6 rebounds in a losing effort.•Eric Dailey Jr. answered with 20 points for the Bruins.•The Knights were hot from deep, draining 12 three-pointers at 38.7%.•Turnovers proved costly for UCF, who committed 17 compared to just 8 for UCLA.•UCF dominated the boards, out-rebounding UCLA 53-41.•UCLA protected the rim with 9 blocks.•