Sacramento State vs UCLA: No. 19 Bruins look to bounce back from Arizona loss vs Hornets

No. 19 UCLA looks to bounce back from a heartbreaking 69-65 loss to Arizona on Nov. 14. The Bruins (3-1) host the Sacramento State Hornets (3-2) on Nov. 18 at Pauley Pavilion. Game time is 7:30 p.m. PT, broadcast on Big Ten Network. Tyler Bilodeau leads UCLA with 17.0 ppg through four games.

What Happened Against Arizona

UCLA controlled most of the game against Arizona last Friday. The Bruins led 57-49 with under 8 minutes remaining. Then Arizona scored 20 points in the final 7:15. Kyle Booker couldn’t contain the Wildcats‘ late surge.

Jaden Bradley was quiet most of the game. But he erupted for 11 points down the stretch. Anthony Dell’Orso led Arizona with 20 points off the bench. He was 4-of-7 from 3-point range.

“The Bruins led 57-49 with under eight minutes to go and were outscored by Arizona, 20-8, over the final 7:15.”

Tyler Bilodeau shot 7-of-10 for UCLA. He was 3-of-4 from 3-point range. Bilodeau finished with 19 points. Donovan Dent added 11 points and 8 assists. The loss hurt after UCLA started the season 3-0.

Why This Gauntlet Matters for Defense

UCLA’s defensive weakness showed in the final minutes. The Bruins averaged 67.0 points allowed through four games. But Arizona’s closing stretch exposed vulnerabilities. Coach Mick Cronin must tighten perimeter defense before Big Ten play ramps up.

Defensive intensity will be critical moving forward. UCLA ranked No. 22 in scoring defense last season. The team hasn’t lost focus on that end. But Arizona proved late-game execution matters more than regular stats.

Fans expect better rebounding too. Xavier Booker recorded 5 blocks against Pepperdine. That defensive versatility must return against Sacramento State. The Hornets shoot 47.8% overall this season.

Matchup Stats and Player Performances

Sacramento State poses a middling challenge on paper. The Hornets are 0-1 on the road this season. UCLA dominated all three previous matchups decisively. The Bruins never surrendered more than 56 points in those meetings.

Player Stats	PPG	RPG	APG
Tyler Bilodeau (UCLA)	17.0	N/A	N/A
Donovan Dent (UCLA)	14.7	N/A	7.0
Eric Dailey Jr. (UCLA)	12.3 (3 games)	4.0	N/A
Xavier Booker (UCLA)	10.8	6.3 (leading)	N/A

UCLA shoots 46.8% overall and 77.1% from the free throw line. Those percentages rank toward the top nationally. The Bruins must maintain that consistency. Sacramento State allows 77.2 ppg on average.

What to Watch For Tuesday

Several key elements will determine if UCLA regains form:

• Bilodeau’s shooting could dictate pace and flow entirely.
• Early foul trouble could impact Booker’s interior defense badly.
• Dent’s ability to push pace will test Sacramento State’s backcourt.
• Three-point shooting determines blowout potential for UCLA.
• Turnovers will hurt more against a 3-2 Hornets squad.

Home court advantage weighs heavily. UCLA went 15-2 at Pauley Pavilion last season. Mick Cronin has posted an impressive 82-15 home record since 2019-20. The Bruins should dominate this matchup convincingly.

Can the Bruins Avoid a Letdown?

UCLA faces a critical mental test on Tuesday. The Arizona loss stung, dropping them 4 spots to No. 19. But Sacramento State isn’t a trophy opponent. The Bruins risk overlooking a beatable foe.

Coach Cronin typically keeps teams locked in after losses. UCLA bounced back from losses before. But consistency matters more than single games. The Bruins must prove the Arizona loss was an outlier, not a trend.

Watch the official highlights from the Arizona game below:

Will UCLA dominate early and avoid complacency? Will Sacramento State’s upstart squad execute late-game offense like Arizona did?

Sources

• UCLA Athletics Official Website – Game preview and roster information
• ESPN – Game recap and player statistics
• Big Ten Network – Broadcast coverage and highlight footage