Pittsburgh guard Damian Dunn (1) shoots under North Carolina guard Drake Powell (9) during an NCAA basketball game on Feb. 8, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
LOS ANGELES — Kobe Johnson shone for UCLA, scoring 15 points and grabbing 13 rebounds in his first double-double. The Bruins dominated Penn State with a score of 78-54 on Saturday.
UCLA capitalized on 18 turnovers by Penn State, turning them into 24 points while only committing four turnovers themselves.
With this win, UCLA improved to 18-6 overall and 9-4 in the conference, marking their seventh straight victory. During this winning streak, they defeated tough teams like No. 21 Wisconsin and No. 9 Michigan State.
In the first half, Penn State briefly led 16-14 thanks to Zach Hicks scoring a couple of 3-pointers. However, UCLA quickly responded with a 10-0 run to go ahead 25-16, leading 44-31 at halftime.
In addition to Johnson’s impressive stats, Skyy Clark added 14 points, while Sebastian Mack contributed another 14 off the bench. The Bruins shot 47% from the field and had 21 assists and 13 steals during the game.
Penn State, struggling with five consecutive losses and nine in their last ten games, shot 38% overall. Hicks was the only player to score in double digits for the Nittany Lions, finishing with 14 points and eight rebounds.
This win also gets UCLA head coach Mick Cronin closer to a personal milestone of 500 career victories.
Next up, UCLA will face No. 23 Illinois on Tuesday, while Penn State will take on USC.
PITTSBURGH FALLS TO UNC
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — In a nail-biting finish, North Carolina edged out Pittsburgh 67-66, with RJ Davis leading the Tar Heels with 18 points. Ven-Allen Lubin added 17 points as North Carolina broke a rough streak of four losses in five games.
The game featured numerous lead changes, and with less than a minute remaining, Davis scored the go-ahead jumper. Despite multiple missed opportunities from both sides, Pittsburgh couldn’t convert their last shots in the closing seconds.
Cameron Corhen scored 17 points for Pitt, but it wasn’t enough against a UNC team eager for a win after a recent slump.
Penn State will look to bounce back against SMU on Tuesday after this tight loss.
SAINT FRANCIS DEFEATS CHICAGO STATE
CHICAGO — Jeremy Clayville scored 17 points, leading Saint Francis to an 81-69 victory over Chicago State. Clayville was on fire, making 6 of 8 shots, including five 3-pointers.
Valentino Pinedo and Daemar Kelly also contributed effectively, with Pinedo scoring 14 and Kelly 13 points, helping their team improve to 10-15 for the season.
Gabe Spinelli stood out for the Cougars with 23 points, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide.
PENN STATE ALTOONA CLAIMS CONFERENCE VICTORY
ERIE — The Penn State Altoona men’s basketball team secured a hard-fought 80-77 win over Penn State Behrend. This victory allowed them to sweep the season series against Behrend.
Kaden Claar led the way with 19 points, shooting an impressive 6-for-7 from the floor. Kal-El Gentles contributed with 15 points and excelled in rebounds and assists.
The team celebrated their ninth conference victory, showcasing their ability to perform under pressure.
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