UCLA
12-6,3-4Big Ten
Iowa
12-6,3-4Big Ten
Men’s Basketball Takes Down Iowa, 94-70
January 17, 2025 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA men's basketball team returned to its winning ways by taking down Iowa, 94-70, on Friday night inside Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom.
The Bruins (12-6, 3-4 Big Ten) used an explosive first-half performance to defeat Iowa (12-6, 3-4) and snap a four-game losing streak in Big Ten Conference action.
UCLA moved the ball effectively on offensive against the visiting Hawkeyes, assisting on 18 of its 23 field goals in the first half. The Bruins led at the intermission, 57-24. That marked UCLA's highest point total in a half since 2016 and the program's largest halftime lead since an 100-70 win at home versus James Madison on Nov. 15, 2012. The Bruins led James Madison by 34 points (63-29) at halftime in that contest in 2012.
In total, the Bruins racked up 26 assists against Iowa on Friday, matching a season-high. Five Bruins logged at least three assists, with Kobe Johnson leading the way with six assists. Johnson has averaged a team-best 3.3 assists per game through the Bruins' first 18 contests.
Five Bruins finished in double figures, with Eric Dailey Jr. leading the way with a career-best 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting, making one 3-pointer and six of his seven foul shots. Tyler Bilodeau went 8-of-10 from the field in his 18-point display and Dylan Andrews drained three shots from 3-point range to finish his night with 13 points.
William Kyle III threw down multiple rim-rocking dunks while posting a season-high 12 points in his 6-for-7 performance. Also finishing in double-digits was Skyy Clark, hitting two triples to fuel his 12-point outing.
Bilodeau led the charge in first-half action by pouring in 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting. For the half, the Bruins shot 65.5 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the 3-point arc. Andrews (13 points) and Dailey Jr. (10 points) also ascended into double-digits in the first half.
UCLA capitalized on each of its first five possessions, establishing a 12-4 lead in the initial minutes of the game. Clark and Andrews contributed to the early surge with a pair of 3-pointers. The Bruins started the contest 9-for-9 from the floor with Bilodeau netting four of those early baskets.
The scorching start catapulted UCLA to a 21-9 lead, prompting Iowa to call a timeout at the 14:10 mark. The Bruins then stiffened on the defensive end, holding the Hawkeyes scoreless for over three minutes during a 14-2 scoring run.
The Bruins then locked down defensively, keeping the Hawkeyes scoreless for over four minutes during a 17-2 scoring run, notching 15 consecutive points in the process. UCLA's tenacious defense limited Iowa to its lowest first-half point total of the season.
William Kyle III electrified the home crowd with a pair of thunderous slam dunks in the closing stages of the half, propelling UCLA to the 33-point advantage at the break. Kyle III totaled eight first-half points, eclipsing his season high in just 12 minutes of action.
Dailey Jr. carried in the load in the second half, dropping 11 points to quickly ascend beyond the 20-point mark. He made four of his first five shots from the field, including a 3-pointer. The offense continued to flow for UCLA, leading by as many as 36 in the second half.
Iowa used a 14-2 run to cut the Bruins' lead to 23 points at the 5:12 mark, but a 7-0 UCLA scoring run helped to restore a 30-point cushion.
The Bruins conclude their two-game homestand against Wisconsin on Tuesday, Jan. 21. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m. (PT), inside Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. The contest will be available for viewing on Peacock (NBC's streaming service).
