Nebraska was just the latest top-10 team to be outclassed by UCLA.
The common denominator? The Bruins were playing at home.
They’re clearly a different team inside Pauley Pavilion, where their energy level surges and almost everything seems to go their way.
UCLA’s 72-52 triumph over No. 9 Nebraska on Tuesday night represented the Bruins’ third home victory over a top-10 team in a span of six weeks.
They edged No. 4 Purdue on a late 3-pointer by Tyler Bilodeau. They got past No. 10 Illinois on Donovan Dent’s coast-to-coast layup in overtime.
No such heroics were needed against the Cornhuskers.
UCLA (20-11 overall, 12-7 Big Ten) built a 13-point halftime lead and never let up in notching a victory that likely made it a lock for the NCAA Tournament.
Three days after the Bruins barely played any defense during a road loss to Minnesota, they held the Cornhuskers (25-5, 14-5) to 38.8 percent shooting, including 20.8 percent from long range. They also handed Nebraska its most lopsided loss of the season after the Cornhuskers had previously suffered no defeats by double digits.
The Bruins finished the season with a 17-1 record at home, where their only loss came to Indiana — in double overtime. It’s just too bad that they can’t play any games here during the NCAA Tournament.
What it means
This was a fourth all-important Quad 1 victory for UCLA, significantly enhancing its standing for the NCAA Tournament.
It was also a happy home sendoff for seniors Bilodeau, Dent, Skyy Clark, Jamar Brown, Steven Jamerson II, Anthony Peoples Jr., Jack Seidler and Evan Manjikian.
Turning point
After Nebraska pulled to within 10 points with 6:49 left, making fans a bit uneasy, Trent Perry hit a pull-up jumper in the lane and Bilodeau followed with a 3-pointer to give the Bruins a more comfortable cushion.
MVP
Three days after his worst performance of the season — a clunker in which he missed all seven shots and went scoreless — Perry redeemed himself.
The sophomore guard led his team with 20 points while making eight of 15 shots and three of six 3-pointers, including one from the corner that gave the Bruins a 15-point lead in the second half.
Up next
The Bruins will complete their regular season on Saturday against rival USC at the Galen Center. Unlike in their recent meeting at Pauley Pavilion, the Trojans will be without Chad Baker-Mazara after the star guard parted ways with the team in an unceremonious late-season departure.
