The game against UCLA was an absolute nightmare, and the Hoosiers fell short again. I went to sleep with a bad feeling in my gut and woke up like I had been tortured. Was this season payback for all those seasons of success back in the Bob Knight era? I just can’t watch anymore and gave up long before the team did. They somehow had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but Mackenzie Mgbako’s shot missed the mark, just like so many attempts throughout the game by his teammates – 25 of 62 (40.3%) and 7-29 from three (24.1%). Statistically, it would have taken three more shots for it to have gone in, so I shouldn’t have been surprised or upset. After all, he had just missed a wide-open lay-up that would have tied it. 

The Bruins got to sixty first, but their physical play nearly cost them in the end. It was 60-52 on a Skyy Clark three with 8:09 to play, but an inadvertent punch to the jaw of Anthony Leal at 1:18 led to two free throws by Luke Goode, narrowing the margin to 70-65 and a 72-68 final score. Another disappointing home loss for the Hoosiers, their uncharacteristic fourth, and another devastating blow to any post-season hopes. 

UCLA led by as many as 13 in the first half and always seemed to make a clutch three to keep the Hoosiers at bay. Mgbako tweaked his ankle and did not return until after the break. Luke Goode turned in a strong second half and finished with 16, while Malik Reneau had just three free throws in the first half and Oumar Ballo managed just a layup and two free throws. Ballo finished with 9, Mgbako 14, and Reneau 14. The Bruins dominated 35-25 at halftime over the stagnant Hoosier offense.