SEATTLE — The big guy did it again.
Three days after his breakout game, when Aday Mara earned big minutes because of a favorable matchup, the UCLA center found himself needed under far different circumstances.
The Bruins had no choice but to use a heavy helping of the 7-foot-3 sophomore on Friday night after forward Tyler Bilodeau turned his ankle in the game’s early going and was limited to just three minutes.
Mara didn’t disappoint in his career-high 30 minutes inside Alaska Airlines Arena, dominating on both ends during UCLA’s 65-60 victory over Washington. His two baskets in the final two minutes made sure his team didn’t falter against a team desperate for a win on its home court.
“What he’s doing in these last couple of games is what he does every day in practice,” point guard Dylan Andrews said of Mara, who finished with 12 points, seven rebounds and a career-high five blocked shots. “Aday’s a monster and I’m glad people are starting to see that.”
With Washington surging toward what looked like an epic comeback, Mara collected a loose ball along the baseline for a jump hook that put the Bruins ahead by six points with 1 minute 59 seconds left.
Then, after Washington’s D.J. Davis buried a three-pointer, Mara made another jump hook to put UCLA up by five.
Huskies guard Zoom Diallo’s putback pulled his team to within three with 41 seconds left, but Andrews — who had made only three of 12 shots to that point — countered with a step-back three-pointer with 17 seconds to go.
“I just stepped back,” Andrews said, “and, man, thank God I got to see a shot go in.”
After UCLA guard Skyy Clark came up with a steal and was fouled, sending him to the free-throw line, a crowd that had been roaring only moments earlier streamed toward the exits as a few pockets of Bruins fans commenced an eight-clap.
It was UCLA’s first road triumph in the Big Ten since early December against Oregon, when Andrews hit a winning three-pointer.
This time, Washington disrupted the play the Bruins wanted, forcing Andrews to improvise. He credited late-night shooting sessions and others for boosting his confidence in that big moment.
“Just my teammates and coach talking to me, letting me know, just, next shot, don’t worry about the last one that you missed,” Andrews said.
Winners of three consecutive games, the Bruins (14-6 overall, 5-4 Big Ten) are on a roll heading into the crosstown rivalry game Monday against USC at the Galen Center.
They needed a collective effort against the Huskies without Bilodeau, their leading scorer. Clark finished with 12 points and forward Kobe Johnson had 11 points and nine rebounds. Guard Sebastian Mack contributed two three-pointers to go with a steal and a charge taken during a critical sequence in the second half.
Forward Great Osobor scored 19 points for Washington (10-10, 1-8), which has lost six straight games.
After steamrolling Iowa by 24 points and winning with an flurry of offense against Wisconsin, the Bruins showed they could win a slugfest against Washington. After committing eight turnovers in the first half, they had only three over the final 20 minutes.
“It just shows that whatever’s going on in a game,” said Andrews, who finished with nine points, three assists and three turnovers, “we can get through it no matter what.”
The latest turmoil came only a few minutes into the game when Bilodeau went down and limped toward the bench, eventually pounding a trainer’s table with his hand in disgust. Bilodeau re-entered the game a few minutes later but was removed after only 35 seconds, never to return.
“I put him in and I didn’t like the way he was moving,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said, “so I’m more worried about his career and the rest of our season, and like I told the team, we’ve got enough players — I’ve got confidence in you guys.”
His belief in Mara continues to rise, particularly after the big man showed he could more than hold his own against Washington’s physical front line that included 6-foot-11 Franck Kepnang in addition to the smaller but more mobile Osobor. Mara made five of 10 shots but could become even more efficient, his coach suggested, with a few tweaks in his game.
“Sometimes he gets too cute and when he gets too cute, Washington had two, three guys on him,” Cronin said. “You know, he’s just got to be confident and turn and score. He’s going to shoot 50% — minimum — and I’ll take that every night.
“You know, when you can’t tackle him and what was happening early was just mind-boggling unbelievable with the forearm stuff [Washington used to defend Mara]. If you’ve got to play him straight up, he’s hard to stop, I keep telling you this, and you’re seeing it now.”
Mara said he wasn’t tired after his 51 minutes over the last two games surpassed his usage over the previous eight games combined — including one game in which he remained on the bench because of a dreaded Did Not Play-Coach’s Decision.
“I knew that Tyler wasn’t going to be able to play because of his injury,” Mara said, “so I just tried to not make stupid fouls, I tried to make a rhythm so I don’t be too tired.”
How did he feel after the game?
“I’m surprised that I didn’t get tired that much, I’m surprised about that,” Mara said, “but I was feeling good.”
The Bruins were feeling even better about their prospects given the way their big man stood tall once more.
“We love having Aday on the court,” Andrews said. “He’s 7 foot, he takes up so much space, rebounds for us, gives us energy, so who doesn’t want a guy like Aday?”
In a thrilling matchup, UCLA managed to hold off Washington to secure its third consecutive victory. The Bruins showcased their resilience and determination as they battled against a tough Washington team.
From the opening tip-off, both teams traded baskets and played tough defense, making it a close and competitive game throughout. UCLA’s offense was firing on all cylinders, with players stepping up and making big plays when it mattered most.
The Bruins’ defense also played a crucial role in securing the win, forcing turnovers and getting key stops down the stretch. Their ability to execute on both ends of the court was a testament to their growth and improvement as a team.
With this win, UCLA continues to build momentum and solidify its position as a contender in the conference. The team’s chemistry and cohesiveness were on full display, as they worked together to overcome a talented Washington squad.
As they look ahead to their next matchup, UCLA will surely be riding high on this victory and using it as motivation to keep their winning streak alive. Fans can expect more exciting games and impressive performances from this resilient Bruins team.
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