NCAA tournament: UCLA fends off Central Florida and advances

PHILADELPHIA — No matter what the stakes, even if it cost them their season, UCLA coach Mick Cronin wasn’t going to put Tyler Bilodeau at risk.

After UCLA survived Central Florida’s desperate comeback bid in a 75-71 win in the first round of the NCAA tournament, Cronin explained why his leading scorer didn’t play Friday night.

“He had a good practice yesterday, but he looked stiff at shootaround today,” Cronin said. “I didn’t like the way he looked. He wanted to play. I said ‘No.’ I’m not going to put that kid in harm’s way.”

As it turned out, the seventh-seeded Bruins didn’t need him. Eric Dailey Jr. finished with 20 points and Xavier Booker, Bilodeau’s replacement in the starting lineup, had 15 points, eight rebounds and four blocks as UCLA held off No. 10 UCF and coach Johnny Dawkins, Cronin’s longtime American Athletic Conference rival, to advance.

“The key was Xavier Booker’s play,” Cronin said. “You have to make up for Tyler. He averages 17 a game.”

The Bruins will play the winner of No. 2 Connecticut vs. No. 15 Furman on Sunday.

Trent Perry played a valuable role for UCLA down the stretch, making two free throws in the final 10 seconds to help hold off a late UCF charge. Perry, though, was mad at himself for missing three of his 10 attempts at the line.

“I usually never miss,” said Perry, who finished with 15 points. “But I never lost confidence. Just stick to the routine.”

UCLA’s Trent Perry, left, shoots over Central Florida’s Themus Fulks during the first half Friday.

(Matt Slocum / Associated Press)

There was hardly anything routine about the game. UCLA missed its first seven shots, then made its next eight. The Bruins built a 35-21 lead late in the first half, before UCF cut it to 35-27 at halftime.

After the Bruins quickly restored the spread to 46-32 early in the second half, UCF didn’t give up.

A three-pointer by Jordan Burks with 10 seconds left made it a three-point score. Perry then made two free throws before Themus Fulks quickly scored on a driving layup. UCLA’s Skyy Clark then made one of two free throws in the final seconds to secure the win.

“They have five wins this year where they came back from 10 down or more,” said Cronin, who was hoping to celebrate the win with a late night cheesesteak rather than having to watch Connecticut and Furman play after a late start. “We talked about it with our team and although at times it didn’t look like it, we worked all week on our press offense.

“We knew it was coming. But congratulations to them. Their kids never gave up. They fired in some tough shots, especially Burks late. Crazy stuff happens in March.”

Perhaps the craziest moment came late in the second half when Clark lost part of a tooth as he scrambled for a loose ball. But the Bruins managed to overcome that — and some final-minute drama — to advance.

That’s all Cronin wanted.

“We win and we play Sunday,” said Cronin, whose previous trips to Xfinity Mobile Arena ended with losses to Villanova in 2022 and to North Carolina in the 2023 Sweet Sixteen. “I think it was good for us to win a game.

“You might see me being hard on guys, but when the rubber meets the road and they need somebody, I’m the guy, so they can take it to the bank.”