No. 7 seed UCLA defeated No. 10 seed UCF 75-71 in a first-round game of the 2026 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament on March 20, 2026, at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1][2]
In the first half, with under two minutes remaining and the shot clock winding down, UCLA guard Donovan Dent attempted a 3-pointer. UCF center John Bol tipped the rebound into his own basket, extending UCLA's lead to 35-21. The two points were awarded to UCLA but not credited to any individual Bruin player.[1]
Bol finished with two points for UCF, going 0-for-5 from the free-throw line.[1][3]
During the game, UCLA guard Skyy Clark lost a front tooth.[1]
UCF narrowed a double-digit halftime deficit late in the game but could not complete the comeback.[1]
Jordan Burks led UCF with 22 points and six rebounds. Riley Kugel added 13 points, while Jamichael Stillwell and Themus Fulks scored 10 points each.[1][3]
| Team | Top Scorers |
|---|---|
| UCF | Jordan Burks 22, Riley Kugel 13, Jamichael Stillwell 10, Themus Fulks 10 |
| UCLA | Eric Dailey Jr. 20, Trent Perry 15, Xavier Booker 15 |
Eric Dailey Jr. led UCLA with 20 points and five rebounds. Trent Perry and Xavier Booker each scored 15 points.[1][3]
UCLA advances to the Round of 32 to face No. 2 seed UConn on March 22, 2026, at 8:45 p.m. ET.[1][2]
Sources
- Fox News, UCLA's Skyy Clark loses front tooth in March Madness thriller to help Bruins seal first-round victory, March 21, 2026, https://www.foxnews.com/sports
- NCAA.com, 2026 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament bracket and results, March 20, 2026, https://www.ncaa.com/march-madness
- ESPN, UCLA vs. UCF - Game Recap - March 20, 2026, March 21, 2026, https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/
