UCLA defeats Cal Poly 108-87

UCLA Edges Cal Poly in Dominant Fashion, Comeback Wins Give Bruins Confidence Boost

UCLA's Pauley Pavilion echoed with the roar of the Bruins faithful as they welcomed Cal Poly to campus, but it was not the home team that left the court empty-handed. In a tightly contested non-conference matchup, UCLA emerged victorious, 108-87, behind a resounding comeback in the second half.

The game saw both teams trading baskets and physicality, but UCLA's superior depth and bench production ultimately proved to be the difference-maker. Skyy Clark led the charge for the Bruins, scoring 30 points on 6-of-12 three-point shooting at an impressive 50.0% clip. His night was mirrored by Tyler Bilodeau, who contributed 24 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Meanwhile, Cal Poly's Cayden Ward kept his team in the game with a strong performance of 21 points on 2-of-6 three-point shooting at 33.3% clip. However, Luka Tarlac struggled to find his rhythm, scoring just two points on four attempts while managing only three rebounds and four assists.

The turning point came midway through the second half when UCLA erased a two-point deficit with a 9-0 run, capping it off with Bilodeau's layup at 7:47 remaining. The Bruins would go on to seal the win by outscoring Cal Poly in paint (42-24) and off turnovers (33-12), taking advantage of UCLA's superior speed and agility.

"Skyy Clark was phenomenal tonight," said a proud head coach. "He carried us through some tough moments and showed why he's one of our top players."

The win marked UCLA's first victory in the early season, and it provided a much-needed boost to their confidence following a tough road trip.

While Cal Poly looked like they had done enough to leave with a hard-fought tie, ultimately falling short, the Bruins' decisive effort secured an important non-conference win for Pauley Pavilion.

For UCLA, this victory was all about the team's ability to respond in the face of adversity and overcome obstacles together.