LOS ANGELES — UCLA needed a major victory as it tries to build its NCAA tournament resume – and it got one.
The Bruins put up one of their best performances of the season to take down No. 4 Purdue, 69-67, for its first signature win of the season, and a massive one in the Big Ten.
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It was all thanks to guard Donovan Dent, who broke out of a rough slump and showed all the reasons that made him such a highly-touted transfer out of New Mexico. He had 23 points and a season-high 13 assists, and there was one no greater than the final one that found Tyler Bilodeau to deliver the game-winning 3-point shot with six seconds left.
Purdue went for a game-winning shot, but were unable to get the bucket.
In a matchup linked with legendary John Wooden – who played for Purdue and later was coach at UCLA – Purdue got out to a hot start and it looked like the Boilermakers would cap off their West Coast trip in perfect fashion with a 12-point lead in the first half. The strong presence of Purdue fans inside Pauley Pavilion overtook the home crowd.
Then UCLA turned it up a notch. It was blocking shots and the offense started knocking down shots, using a 17-5 run in the first seven minutes of the half to go in the locker room tied.
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The second half remained close, with the lead and momentum going back-and-forth. Purdue again looked like it was closing in on a win when it led by six points with just under two minutes left.
However, Purdue couldn’t get more opportunities to put the nail in the coffin. Two key turnovers resulted in UCLA baskets to close the deficit, punctuated by Bilodeau’s game-winning shot. UCLA ended the game on an 8-0 run.
It’s a much-needed win for UCLA as its tournament hopes were starting to fade thanks to some tough losses and no big win. The Bruins entered the night 12-6 with a 1-5 Quad 1 record. The win over Purdue dramatically boosts UCLA’s resume as it tries to live up to preseason expectations.
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Dent and Bilodeau were two of four Bruins that were in double figures. Star Boilermakers guard Braden Smith finished with 12 points and four assists.
Purdue suffers its second loss of the season, snapping its nine-game win streak. It’s the first road loss for the Boilermakers.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: UCLA boosts NCAA tournament hopes with upset of No. 4 Purdue
