Our Clients:

Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Feb 22, 2025 5:53 pm

Ohio State faces UCLA while in ‘must-win’ mode

Tyler Bilodeau

With two straight losses and three defeats in the past four games, crunch time has arrived if Ohio State aspires to reach the NCAA Tournament.

The next test for the Buckeyes (15-12, 7-9 Big Ten) is the start of a two-game trip to California on Sunday against UCLA (19-8, 10-6 Big Ten) at Los Angeles.

“It’s a must-win game, so I expect us to come out and play hard and like our lives are on the line,” Ohio State guard Micah Parrish said. “We have a good group of guys who want to win and play in the tournament, so I think we will find a way.”

The Buckeyes looked to be in an advantageous position to earn a bid before am 86-83 home loss to No. 12 Michigan last Sunday and another in inexplicable fashion, 70-49 on Thursday to Northwestern, which had lost six of seven.

“The way we were letting our offense affect our defense felt almost like a new, young team, which we haven’t been,” Ohio State coach Jake Diebler said. “You’d expect something like that to happen in the beginning of the season. That can’t happen again, clearly.”

The Bruins were saying much the same thing about their 64-61 loss to visiting Minnesota on Tuesday. UCLA led by 17 early and 11 at the half but collapsed late to deny coach Mick Cronin his 500th career victory.

“There’s not much to say – it’s unacceptable,” UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau said. “But there’s nothing we can do about it now. We just have to focus on the next one.”

Bilodeau missed four of his seven free-throw attempts against Minnesota, including two with 1:25 remaining. Eric Dailey Jr. also missed two with 17 seconds left as the Bruins went 9 of 19 from the line.

There is sure to be plenty of emotion inside UCLA’s on-campus arena, with the program set to celebrate the life of legend Bill Walton, who passed away in May of last year.

The Bruins, who are 1-2 after a seven-game winning streak, will try exploit the Buckeyes’ defense with a crisp passing game.

For the first time since the 2016-17 season, UCLA has three players with 70 or more assists: Dylan Andrews (79), Kobe Johnson (78), Skyy Clark (71).

The Buckeyes are looking for a group effort as well. Parrish and Bruce Thornton combined for 29 points on 11-of-25 shooting from the floor vs Northwestern. The rest of the team had 20 points and made 6 of 25 shots.

– Field Level Media

You may also like

caitlin clark
Jul 4, 2025 8:22 pm

Caitlin Clark to miss fifth straight game for Fever vs. Sparks

The Indiana Fever ruled Caitlin Clark out for Saturday’s home game against the Los Angeles Sparks due to her lingering left groin injury. Clark will sit out for a fifth…

napheesa collier
Jul 4, 2025 7:16 pm

Napheesa Collier, Lynx prepare to face stingy Valkyries defense

The Minnesota Lynx are at their best when Napheesa Collier is knocking down shots. That could be bad news for the Golden State Valkyries (9-7) as they prepare to tip…

indiana fever
Jul 4, 2025 2:46 pm

Fever rolling, look to continue winning ways vs. visiting Sparks

The Indiana Fever look to extend their winning streak to four games when they host the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday night in Indianapolis. Caitlin Clark (left groin strain) has…

More Basketball News

caitlin clark
Jul 4, 2025 8:22 pm

Caitlin Clark to miss fifth straight game for Fever vs. Sparks

The Indiana Fever ruled Caitlin Clark out for Saturday’s home game against the Los Angeles Sparks due to her lingering left groin injury. Clark will sit out for a fifth…

napheesa collier
Jul 4, 2025 7:16 pm

Napheesa Collier, Lynx prepare to face stingy Valkyries defense

indiana fever
Jul 4, 2025 2:46 pm

Fever rolling, look to continue winning ways vs. visiting Sparks

phoenix suns bradley beal
Jul 4, 2025 12:10 pm

Report: Suns discussing buyout with G Bradley Beal

moritz wagner magic
Jul 4, 2025 10:09 am

Magic re-signing C Moritz Wagner to 1-year, $5M deal

Read all
fb-post
advertisment
title-icon

Upcoming events

See all odds
[gs-fb-comments]