Aggies Go Ice Cold as UCLA Ends Their Big Dance Run

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Utah State’s offense picked the worst possible time to struggle, as the Aggies endured a crushing 72-47 defeat against UCLA in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Rupp Arena.

Shooting woes plagued the Aggies (26-8) all night, with the team hitting just 30% of their shots from the field. Their struggles from beyond the arc were even more severe, making just 4-of-31 three-point attempts. The 47 points marked their lowest offensive output of the season.

Mason Falslev was the lone bright spot for Utah State, leading the team with 17 points, including 13 in the first half. Deyton Albury added 12, but no other player reached double figures. Ian Martinez, the team’s top scorer this season, endured a tough night, missing all seven of his three-point attempts and finishing with just two points.

On the other side, seventh-seeded UCLA (23-10) put together a balanced attack. Skyy Clark and Eric Dailey Jr. each scored 14 points, while 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara provided a boost off the bench with 10 points. The Bruins dominated offensively, assisting on 22 of their 26 field goals and shooting 48% overall. They also connected on 10 of 24 attempts from deep.

UCLA took control late in the first half, using a 12-2 run to build a 39-27 lead at the break. The Bruins kept their momentum going in the second half, outscoring the Aggies 17-7 early on to stretch the lead past 20 points.

With the victory, UCLA advances to the second round for the fourth time in five seasons and will face Tennessee on Saturday. The Bruins continue their push for a fourth Sweet 16 appearance in the last five tournaments.

For Utah State, the loss marks the end of a solid season that saw them reach March Madness for the third consecutive year—each time with a different head coach. This year’s appearance was under first-year coach Jarrod Calhoun, but the Aggies couldn’t overcome their cold shooting and high turnover count, which led to 20 points for UCLA.

Despite the early exit, Utah State’s return to the tournament for a third straight season highlights the program’s consistency. However, their offensive struggles on Thursday night made for a disappointing end to an otherwise impressive year .

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keelee-mccain

Keelee McCain is a junior at Weber High School. This is her second year on staff, this year as Assistant to the Chief. She does have a life (probably) but she can't think of anything to write in here, so she's probably just going to ramble now. She has an orange cat who she likes better than any human. If you see her being quiet or not sitting on top of a desk, there is something very wrong. In her free time she enjoys harassing her favorite teachers and sleeping. Her life plans include making it through high school and leaving. Happy lifeing.