Trent Perry’s Strong Second Half Leads UCLA to Victory Against Penn State
UCLA Guard Trent Perry Shines in Victory Over Penn State
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – In a standout performance, UCLA sophomore guard Trent Perry scored a career-high 30 points, leading the Bruins to a 71-60 victory against Penn State on Wednesday night at the Bryce Jordan Center. Perry delivered a remarkable second half, contributing 22 of his points as UCLA secured its fourth win in six Big Ten games.
Perry’s momentum shifted the game’s dynamics, particularly in pivotal moments. He netted four three-pointers in the second half, including a crucial shot from the corner following an inbounds pass from Donovan Dent, extending UCLA’s lead to five points. Another three-pointer at the shot clock’s end solidified the team’s advantage, driving it into double digits.
Alongside Perry, forward Tyler Bilodeau added 21 points on seven-for-13 shooting. The Bruins’ ability to clinch the victory was underscored by their rebounding advantage, grabbing 11 more boards than the Nittany Lions, and a perfect 21-for-21 performance at the free-throw line, despite shooting only 42.6 percent from the field compared to Penn State’s 43.5 percent.
The significance of Perry and Bilodeau’s performance was amplified by the struggles of fellow starters Dent, Eric Dailey Jr., and Xavier Booker, who collectively mustered just two points, failing to convert on all 10 attempts.
UCLA improved to a record of 12-5 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten, displaying resilience after making only one of its first ten three-pointers, subsequently converting nine of its next 14.
The game marked UCLA’s third consecutive full outing without shooting guard Skyy Clark, sidelined by a hamstring injury. However, forward Brandon Williams made his return, bouncing back from a one-game absence due to a lower-body injury.
Tragedy struck for Penn State when leading scorer Freddie Dilione suffered an apparent right ankle injury in the first half and did not return. Guard Dominick Stewart led the Nittany Lions (9-8, 0-6) with 16 points in the loss.
The first half was marked by disjointed play, including a period where Dent sat out due to illness. Nonetheless, the Bruins surged toward the end of the half, erupting for 12 consecutive points. This momentum was interrupted by a contentious foul called against Dent, which drew ire from both him and his coach, allowing Penn State’s Melih Tunca to reduce the Bruins’ lead to 29-23 with two late free throws.
Despite early challenges, including missed opportunities and inconsistent play, UCLA found a source of motivation in Perry’s performance, reinforcing the team as it aims for greater consistency moving forward.
