University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Postgame Quotes - UCLA 71, Penn State 60
POSTGAMEย QUOTES
UCLA 71, Penn State 60
State College, Pa. (Bryce Jordan Center)
January 14, 2026
ย
Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Menโs Head Basketball Coachย
opening statement
โDonny [Donovan Dent] took a shot to the head and was out for a while getting evaluated โ not really himself when he came back. But he gutted it out. Didnโt have any turnovers from the time he came back, and I think he had five assists. Obviously, Trent [Perry] made some big shots. Theyโre a team that likes to double the posts and pack it in the paint, but I got him to a point where heโs not hesitating as an offensive player and I think that matters. Itโs huge for him โ just got to keep building. If youโre going to win games and go through a season, thatโs our third different player to have 30-plus points in a game. Tyler [Bilodeau] and Skyy [Clark], and now Trent. Itโs gonna be different guys, you just gonna have to keep grinding out. Thatโs conference play. Theyโre banged up. I told you, Tyler hadnโt been out of bed in three days, gets 21 [points]. Zero practices. Zero practices. Heโs still sick. I wouldnโt get too close to him. Sounds terrible. Heโs got all kinds of medicine. Our training staff and our doctors have done everything they can where he can to play tonight, and heโs done that for himself because heโs a tough kid. I want to say this. I thought the key to the game early, Donny went out, Tyler was still getting his legs back because he hadnโt been out of bed since the Maryland game. Eric Freeny came in and hit two massive shots for us. He gave us 23 minutes of great defense, some rebounding, and he was really, really important to this win. I mean those two shots, to me, were huge.โ
ย
on Steven Jamerson IIโs impact
โDefensively, weโre getting better at staying in front of our guy. Thatโs been the key the last two games. Most importantly, Steve had eight rebounds. Steve had some big offensive ones. Tyler had nine defensive. Steve had five offensive, and when we needed them, because we werenโt making anything. Until Trent got going, we were missing everything. Steve had some massive offensive rebounds and put some of them back. Second chance points were 19 to four.โ
ย
on Penn Stateโs Kayden Mingo and if his absence affected the teamโs preparation
โOur best player is out. Skyy Clark is out. Everybodyโs got guys out. I hope he comes back, I heard he hurt his nose. We didnโt know if he was going to play or not, so that didnโt change anything for us.โ
ย
on the status of Skyy Clark heading into the Ohio State game
โIโd put him on the doubtful. He looked good in shootaround. We came over and shot for about 30 minutes today. He looked pretty out there today, but I donโt know.โ
ย
on the teamโs perfect free throw shooting
โI got rid of the free throw shooting coach and I took over. No, Iโm just teasing. Iโm going to tell you the secret to making free throws. This is a real simple one โ have the right guys get fouled. Trent [Perry] was an elite free throw shooter at Harvard-Westlake. The fact that he hasnโt been that here is just youth, pressure, it doesnโt surprise me. If you go back and watch their state final game, I think they beat Salesian, he did the same thing with the free throws. The two keys for me, the last two games, Steven Jamerson was two-for-two at the line towards the end of the game. Thatโs huge for a big guy like that.โ
ย
on Trent Perryโs growing confidence
โPeople see me. I yell at guys when they donโt shoot the ball. You end up with a turnover. Shoot it. Let it fly, man. It might go in. You got to let it fly โ you canโt be timid. Coaching offensive guys, the guys you know have talent, you gotta empower them.โ
ย
on dealing with teamโs injuries and illnesses
โYou got to push through. You got to get five guys out there and find a way to win the game. I mean, itโs tough. Especially in this era, because youโre not going to be that deep because of the portal.โ
UCLA sophomore guard Trent Perry
on helping UCLA win and score 30 points at Penn State
โGrateful for my teammates to trust in me and my coaches to trust in me. Iโm just glad we got on the road and got a win.โ
on his scoring production increasing
โJust staying confident. Things are going to come your way. Keep playing defense, keep being enthusiastic and the offense will come. Thatโs what happened tonight.โ
on his crucial shots
โJust taking what the defense gives me. Just fortunate that it was coming my way, and I was able to execute.โ
on what Coach Cronin has done to help him
โAll of the coaches have been telling me, let it fly. With Skyy being out, they have just been telling me if youโre playing with Donny [Dent], he is going to find you. Be aggressive.โ
on the first half vs. the second half
โThings happen, you know. With Skyy being out a couple games ago, and now Donny getting out this first half, I was just able to pull the team together, and said we just need to keep locking in. Stay to our principles, and see what happens, and we were able to execute.โย
on the strong free-throw shooting
โJust going out there and shooting it. Statistically, Iโve been a great free-throw shooter. All of high school, even last year, I shot about 80-something percent from the free-throw line. This year, started off a little rocky, but no matter what you just have to stay confident and put the work in.โ
on taking this game and building momentum
โJust keep building, itโs basketball at the end of the day. We had a pretty rocky start; we lost two in a row. I just think we keep building and we just try to get it done on Saturday.ย ย
ย
UCLA redshirt senior center Steven Jamerson II
on the keys to his game against Penn State
โStaying tall and poised. Making sure I stay focused on the task ahead of me. Especially for the play you were talking about, just making sure I stay in front of the ball because coach likes to emphasize that in practice. Especially for the bigs to stay in front, donโt let them drive past us for an easy layup, do the best that we can to stop them from scoring.โย ย ย
on his big stops
โI think it was good. I think it was good to show that I am capable to guard guys like that. He didnโt give up on trying to drive in on me either. He stopped. He tried to fake. Those hustle plays are fun for me.โ
on getting offensive rebounds
โI think it was very important for me to grab those boards. It creates energy for our team, to hopefully get an extra shot off of that rebound. Itโs definitely a mental thing for the other team as well, the fact that they canโt get the rebound. It keeps them on the defensive end for longer, makes them more tired, and gives us more opportunities to score.โ
on Trent Perryโs strong effort at Penn State
โTrent is my guy. Iโve only been here for this year, but heโs my roommate. I see him day in and day out and it is impressive to see his growth and I canโt wait to see him put more out onto that floor.โ
on winning on the road in the Big Ten
โWe are trying to make the tournament, so every game counts, every game matters. You win one, cool. Letโs win the next one. Letโs keep that type of mentality. No one likes to lose โ either way we have to win, and thatโs what we are going out there to do every night.โ
ย
ย
UCLA 71, Penn State 60
State College, Pa. (Bryce Jordan Center)
January 14, 2026
ย
Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Menโs Head Basketball Coachย
opening statement
โDonny [Donovan Dent] took a shot to the head and was out for a while getting evaluated โ not really himself when he came back. But he gutted it out. Didnโt have any turnovers from the time he came back, and I think he had five assists. Obviously, Trent [Perry] made some big shots. Theyโre a team that likes to double the posts and pack it in the paint, but I got him to a point where heโs not hesitating as an offensive player and I think that matters. Itโs huge for him โ just got to keep building. If youโre going to win games and go through a season, thatโs our third different player to have 30-plus points in a game. Tyler [Bilodeau] and Skyy [Clark], and now Trent. Itโs gonna be different guys, you just gonna have to keep grinding out. Thatโs conference play. Theyโre banged up. I told you, Tyler hadnโt been out of bed in three days, gets 21 [points]. Zero practices. Zero practices. Heโs still sick. I wouldnโt get too close to him. Sounds terrible. Heโs got all kinds of medicine. Our training staff and our doctors have done everything they can where he can to play tonight, and heโs done that for himself because heโs a tough kid. I want to say this. I thought the key to the game early, Donny went out, Tyler was still getting his legs back because he hadnโt been out of bed since the Maryland game. Eric Freeny came in and hit two massive shots for us. He gave us 23 minutes of great defense, some rebounding, and he was really, really important to this win. I mean those two shots, to me, were huge.โ
ย
on Steven Jamerson IIโs impact
โDefensively, weโre getting better at staying in front of our guy. Thatโs been the key the last two games. Most importantly, Steve had eight rebounds. Steve had some big offensive ones. Tyler had nine defensive. Steve had five offensive, and when we needed them, because we werenโt making anything. Until Trent got going, we were missing everything. Steve had some massive offensive rebounds and put some of them back. Second chance points were 19 to four.โ
ย
on Penn Stateโs Kayden Mingo and if his absence affected the teamโs preparation
โOur best player is out. Skyy Clark is out. Everybodyโs got guys out. I hope he comes back, I heard he hurt his nose. We didnโt know if he was going to play or not, so that didnโt change anything for us.โ
ย
on the status of Skyy Clark heading into the Ohio State game
โIโd put him on the doubtful. He looked good in shootaround. We came over and shot for about 30 minutes today. He looked pretty out there today, but I donโt know.โ
ย
on the teamโs perfect free throw shooting
โI got rid of the free throw shooting coach and I took over. No, Iโm just teasing. Iโm going to tell you the secret to making free throws. This is a real simple one โ have the right guys get fouled. Trent [Perry] was an elite free throw shooter at Harvard-Westlake. The fact that he hasnโt been that here is just youth, pressure, it doesnโt surprise me. If you go back and watch their state final game, I think they beat Salesian, he did the same thing with the free throws. The two keys for me, the last two games, Steven Jamerson was two-for-two at the line towards the end of the game. Thatโs huge for a big guy like that.โ
ย
on Trent Perryโs growing confidence
โPeople see me. I yell at guys when they donโt shoot the ball. You end up with a turnover. Shoot it. Let it fly, man. It might go in. You got to let it fly โ you canโt be timid. Coaching offensive guys, the guys you know have talent, you gotta empower them.โ
ย
on dealing with teamโs injuries and illnesses
โYou got to push through. You got to get five guys out there and find a way to win the game. I mean, itโs tough. Especially in this era, because youโre not going to be that deep because of the portal.โ
UCLA sophomore guard Trent Perry
on helping UCLA win and score 30 points at Penn State
โGrateful for my teammates to trust in me and my coaches to trust in me. Iโm just glad we got on the road and got a win.โ
on his scoring production increasing
โJust staying confident. Things are going to come your way. Keep playing defense, keep being enthusiastic and the offense will come. Thatโs what happened tonight.โ
on his crucial shots
โJust taking what the defense gives me. Just fortunate that it was coming my way, and I was able to execute.โ
on what Coach Cronin has done to help him
โAll of the coaches have been telling me, let it fly. With Skyy being out, they have just been telling me if youโre playing with Donny [Dent], he is going to find you. Be aggressive.โ
on the first half vs. the second half
โThings happen, you know. With Skyy being out a couple games ago, and now Donny getting out this first half, I was just able to pull the team together, and said we just need to keep locking in. Stay to our principles, and see what happens, and we were able to execute.โย
on the strong free-throw shooting
โJust going out there and shooting it. Statistically, Iโve been a great free-throw shooter. All of high school, even last year, I shot about 80-something percent from the free-throw line. This year, started off a little rocky, but no matter what you just have to stay confident and put the work in.โ
on taking this game and building momentum
โJust keep building, itโs basketball at the end of the day. We had a pretty rocky start; we lost two in a row. I just think we keep building and we just try to get it done on Saturday.ย ย
ย
UCLA redshirt senior center Steven Jamerson II
on the keys to his game against Penn State
โStaying tall and poised. Making sure I stay focused on the task ahead of me. Especially for the play you were talking about, just making sure I stay in front of the ball because coach likes to emphasize that in practice. Especially for the bigs to stay in front, donโt let them drive past us for an easy layup, do the best that we can to stop them from scoring.โย ย ย
on his big stops
โI think it was good. I think it was good to show that I am capable to guard guys like that. He didnโt give up on trying to drive in on me either. He stopped. He tried to fake. Those hustle plays are fun for me.โ
on getting offensive rebounds
โI think it was very important for me to grab those boards. It creates energy for our team, to hopefully get an extra shot off of that rebound. Itโs definitely a mental thing for the other team as well, the fact that they canโt get the rebound. It keeps them on the defensive end for longer, makes them more tired, and gives us more opportunities to score.โ
on Trent Perryโs strong effort at Penn State
โTrent is my guy. Iโve only been here for this year, but heโs my roommate. I see him day in and day out and it is impressive to see his growth and I canโt wait to see him put more out onto that floor.โ
on winning on the road in the Big Ten
โWe are trying to make the tournament, so every game counts, every game matters. You win one, cool. Letโs win the next one. Letโs keep that type of mentality. No one likes to lose โ either way we have to win, and thatโs what we are going out there to do every night.โ
ย
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