UCLA picks up a win over No. 8 Michigan State, lose Tyler Bilodeau

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What a start it’s been to March for the UCLA Bruins! UCLA stunned No. 8 Michigan State 88-84 in the Big Ten Conference tournament quarterfinals on Friday. It was another heroic performance for senior guard Donovan Dent, adding onto his brief UCLA legacy.

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UCLA's three balls were falling on Friday

UCLA has absolutely needed Dent to take this leap. Not only is Dent scoring at a greater volume without turning the ball over, he’s begun to knock down threes, as he went 3-5 from deep on Friday. Trent Perry, Skyy Clark and Eric Dailey Jr. also knocked down big shots for the Bruins, with the trio combining to go 9-19.

Donovan Dent is building a legacy

UCLA’s loss to Michigan State in the regular season was the low-point for the Bruins season but the following game, Dent delivered a game-winning buzzer-beater to beat Illinois to start a 6-1 streak for the Bruins. Dent scored 23 points, with four steals while adding 12 assists. 

Tyler Bilodeau did not return from a first half injury

The win didn’t come without a cost for the Bruins. Just before halftime, UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau went down with a right knee injury. Bilodeau did not return in the game but was present on the Bruins bench in the second half.

UCLA led No. 8 Michigan State for almost the entire game

The Bruins surprisingly controlled the game. Michigan State led by four points early in the first half before UCLA took over. Mick Cronin’s team had a 44-33 halftime lead and pushed their lead to as high as 15 points. Michigan State won the battle on the glass, out-rebounding UCLA 34-26 but the elite offensive showing from the Bruins was enough to get the surprise win.

Bruins are back in action on Saturday

Now UCLA will face No. 18 Purdue on Saturday in the Big Ten semifinal at 12:30p.m. Pacific Time. If the Bruins are victorious against the Boilermakers then UCLA will face the winner of No. 23 Wisconsin and No. 3 Michigan for a chance for the program’s first Big Ten championship.

This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA shocks Michigan State 88-84, move to Big Ten tourney semifinals

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