LEXINGTON, Ky. — Skyy Clark and Eric Dailey Jr. each scored 14 points and No. 7 seed UCLA routed 10th-seeded Utah State, 72-47, on Thursday night to reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in five seasons.
Aday Mara, a 7-foot-3 reserve center, added 10 points for Coach Mick Cronin’s Bruins (23-10), who will face second-seeded Tennessee on Saturday in the Midwest Region as they seek their fourth Sweet 16 appearance in the past five editions of March Madness. The Volunteers also cruised to an easy win, 77-62 over Wofford.
Mason Falslev scored 17 points and Deyton Albury had 12 for Utah State (26-8), which reached its third consecutive NCAA Tournament – this time under Jarrod Calhoun, the Aggies’ third coach in that span.
UCLA broke the game open by holding the Mountain West Conference school to just two free throws during a 12-2 run for a 39-27 halftime advantage. Then the Bruins had a 17-7 surge early in the second half to build a 20-point lead.
The Bruins finished at 48% from the field after shooting 55% in the first half. They shot 10 for 24 from 3-point range, eight of 10 players scored, and they had 22 assists on 26 baskets.
Utah State shot 30% while committing 11 turnovers, leading to 20 UCLA points.
More to come on this story.
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