Indiana University
15-11,6-9Big Ten
UCLA
19-7,10-5Big Ten
Indiana Falls Late Against UCLA, 72-68
2/14/2025 11:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
By Pete DiPrimio
IUHoosiers.com
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Crunch time arrived and so did Indiana frustration.
With victory within reach in the final 53 seconds Friday night, the Hoosiers couldn't get the crucial baskets and defensive stops in a 72-68 loss to UCLA at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. It was their fourth loss by five or fewer points in the last six games.
Why can't IU (15-11 overall, 6-9 in the Big Ten) finish?
"I wish I had the answer," coach Mike Woodson said. "You go back to the Northwestern, Maryland, Purdue, and Michigan games. They were all winnable. If you win one or two, you feel good about yourselves in close games. The fact we've lost them, guys are searching. I'm searching to get them over the finish line.
"I take the responsibility. It's my job to get them over the hump."
IU has lost eight of its last 10 games. The positives gained from Tuesday night's upset victory at No. 11 Michigan State weren't followed up at home.
"Any loss stings," Woodson said. "Any time you lose, it hurts. After the Michigan State game, when we played so well, to not finish, it hurts."
Swingman Mackenzie Mgbako had six early points, then limped to the sidelines with an injury. The Hoosiers offense wasn't the same the rest of the half. He returned in the second half and finished with 14 points.
It wasn't enough.
Forward Luke Goode opened the second half by scoring 10 points in less than five minutes. He finished with 16 points and seven rebounds.
It wasn't enough.
Forward Malik Reneau played the sixth-man role for the second straight game and finished with 14 points.
It, too, wasn't enough.
The 2-3 zone defense that worked so well three days earlier at Michigan State resurfaced against UCLA (19-7, 10-5), a better 3-point-shooting team. The Bruins broke free for enough 3-pointers for IU to switch to man defense. They finished 9-for-20 beyond the arc to the Hoosiers' 7-for-29.
"There were times when the zone didn't help," Woodson said. "We didn't play it right and then got away from it. Our rotations were off. They have big-time shooters around the horn, so you've got to pick and choose when you're playing teams that can shoot from the perimeter."
IU fell behind by 13 points in the first half and by 10 points four times in the second but kept rallying.
"They are a good defensive team," Woodson said. "They get after you. I still thought we made plays. We played so poorly in the first half, but we played Indiana basketball in the second half. We made plays. We made free throws."
IU starting the game going inside to Oumar Ballo, who was fouled and made a pair of free throws. Three Mgbako baskets, and one from guard Anthony Leal followed for a 10-7 Hoosier lead.
With Mgbako sidelined with an injury, Indiana didn't make a field goal for the next six minutes. UCLA capitalized for a 16-11 lead midway through the first half. Reneau countered with a pair of free throws. The Bruins countered back with a pair of 3-pointers for a 22-13 lead.
UCLA led 33-20 when guard Kanaan Carlyle, who hadn't played since the Jan. 26 Maryland game, hit a 3-pointer. Guard Trey Galloway added a layup over 7-3 Aday Mara for a 35-25 halftime score. Mgbako led with six points in seven minutes.
Mgbako was back to start the second half and quickly hit a 3-pointer. Goode followed with a two-point basket, and then a pair of 3-pointers. IU closed within 40-36 in less than four minutes.
UCLA kept rebuilding double-digit leads. The Hoosiers kept slashing them.
Guard Myles Rice hit a 3-pointer and drove for a layup. Reneau scored inside. Goode drew a Bruin foul. Reneau scored again. IU trailed 65-61with 3:29 left, and then 67-63 with 2:33 remaining.
Goode made a pair of free throws after a UCLA technical. The Bruins twice missed the front end of one and ones. Reneau completed a three-point play. IU trailed 70-68 with 46.8 seconds left.
The Hoosiers forced a wild UCLA miss and got possession with 30 seconds left. Rice and Mgbako missed inside shots, but IU retained possession with 8.8 seconds left. Woodson called timeout to set up a final play. Mgbako missed an open 3-pointer with 4.2 seconds left. UCLA got the rebound and clinched it with a pair of free throws.
"We executed, but didn't finish," Woodson said. "We got good looks. Mack got an offensive rebound (off Rice's shot), a point-blank shot and missed.
"We got exactly what we were looking for -- a wide-open 3. That's a shot he normally makes, but he just didn't make it."
IU doesn't play again until Sunday, Feb. 23, when it hosts Purdue. It lost 81-76 at Mackey Arena last month.
"We battled our butts off in West Lafayette," Woodson said. "They're playing well. We've had our ups and downs. We have a week to see where we are."
