Indiana Edges UCLA In Double Overtime Thriller At Pauley

The energy at Pauley Pavilion was electric on Saturday afternoon, January 31, 2026, as the UCLA Bruins’ men’s basketball team put its unbeaten home record on the line against the Indiana Hoosiers. What unfolded was a double-overtime thriller that had fans on the edge of their seats until the very last second—a contest packed with wild momentum swings, clutch performances, and a finish that will be talked about for years to come. When the dust settled, it was Indiana who emerged victorious, handing UCLA its first home loss of the season in a nail-biting 98-97 battle.

Heading into the matchup, Indiana faced adversity even before the opening tip. The Hoosiers were shorthanded, with starting guard Tayton Conerway sidelined due to a lingering right ankle injury. According to the Big Ten’s pregame availability report, Conerway was officially listed as out, joining teammates Jason Drake and Josh Harris on the inactive list. This forced Indiana coach Mike Woodson to adjust his starting lineup, slotting Conor Enright at point guard, Lamar Wilkerson at shooting guard, Nick Dorn at small forward, Tucker DeVries at power forward, and Sam Alexis at center. The absence of Conerway, a key backcourt presence, meant the Hoosiers would need contributions from across the roster—and that’s exactly what they got.

The game’s opening moments hinted at the drama to come. Both teams traded baskets and defensive stops, but it was Indiana who seized the first significant momentum. Lamar Wilkerson ignited a 12-0 run midway through the first half, pouring in nine points and knocking down a contested three-pointer from the corner to give the Hoosiers their first lead at 18-16. Reed Bailey, coming off an impressive showing against Purdue, continued his hot streak off the bench, scoring 10 points in the first half and cutting to the basket with confidence.

Yet, UCLA wasn’t about to let the visitors dictate the tempo. The Bruins responded with a 9-0 surge of their own, fueled by mid-range jumpers and capped by a three-pointer from Brandon Williams. By halftime, the game had already featured several lead changes, foreshadowing the fireworks to come.

After the break, Indiana’s offense found another gear. Nick Dorn, who has blossomed since entering the starting lineup in place of Conerway, took control. Dorn erupted for 21 of his 26 points in the second half, hitting from deep and grabbing key offensive rebounds. At one point, he accounted for 18 of Indiana’s 24 points in the half, including multiple three-pointers that kept the Hoosiers in front. “Nick Dorn, he had some pretty big shots. Even though he went 6-for-15, he still hit some big shots. He got hot,” UCLA’s Trent Perry said after the game. “We just had to talk a little bit better, but we can’t be shooting like that in those moments.”

Indiana’s lead grew to 10 points with under two minutes remaining in regulation, and it seemed the Hoosiers might cruise to a statement road win. But the Bruins, led by sophomore guard Trent Perry and senior guard Donovan Dent, staged a remarkable comeback. UCLA, which had struggled offensively in the second half—shooting just 23.8% from the field and missing eight consecutive shots—suddenly found life. Dent, who finished with a double-double (24 points, 11 assists, and six rebounds), orchestrated the offense, while Perry delivered perhaps the play of the game.

With 1.1 seconds left and the Bruins trailing by four, Perry launched a desperation three-pointer from 27 feet out. The shot rattled through, tying the game and sending the Pauley Pavilion crowd into a frenzy. Overtime beckoned, and the tension only escalated.

The first overtime saw more of the same back-and-forth drama. Perry again had a chance to win it for UCLA with a baseline floater at the buzzer, but the shot fell short. Both teams battled fatigue and foul trouble—Indiana’s Conor Enright, Reed Bailey, and Jasai Miles all fouled out, while UCLA’s Tyler Bilodeau, who had 17 points and 11 rebounds in regulation, also exited after picking up his fifth foul early in the second overtime.

Despite these setbacks, Indiana’s depth shone through. Bailey, before fouling out with 2:47 remaining in overtime, had a season-high 24 points on 6-of-7 shooting, six rebounds, and four assists. He was a force at the free-throw line as well, converting 12 of 13 attempts. Bailey’s ability to cut to the basket and finish in traffic proved critical, as did his defensive presence in the paint.

The second overtime was a war of attrition. The teams traded leads, with neither able to pull away. UCLA’s Perry continued his heroics, finishing with a game-high 25 points—seven of which came in the extra sessions—alongside three rebounds. But with the score knotted at 97 and time winding down, Indiana found one last answer. After a wild sequence that saw the ball bounce out of bounds and a lengthy review, the officials awarded Indiana possession under the UCLA basket. Freshman forward Trent Sisley, who had been steady all game, received the inbounds pass, spun in the lane, and drew a foul with just 0.3 seconds left on the clock.

With the game—and Indiana’s hopes—resting on his shoulders, Sisley calmly sank the first free throw, giving the Hoosiers a 98-97 lead. The Bruins had no time to respond, and Indiana celebrated a gritty, hard-fought victory on the road. “The defense was awful all night. We deserved to lose. We went through a stretch where we were pouting, and letting one shot affect the next shot,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin admitted postgame. “We couldn’t score for a long time, that’s how we got down 10, missing wide-open shot after wide-open shot, because we act like somebody stole our favorite toy and we’re a three-year-old.”

Cronin was quick to credit Indiana’s shooting as a decisive factor, noting, “Three things I would tell you about Indiana because we’re all paranoid as coaches. They’re a great shooting team. They have three of the best shooters in the country, not the Big Ten – Wilkerson, Dorn and Tucker DeVries.”

The numbers back up Cronin’s assessment. Indiana shot efficiently from deep, with Dorn’s 18 points from beyond the arc and Bailey’s near-perfect night at the line. Meanwhile, the Bruins managed just 39.5% from the field and 7-of-22 from three-point range, unable to match Indiana’s offensive firepower down the stretch.

The loss drops UCLA to 15-7 overall and 7-4 in Big Ten play, while Indiana improves to 15-7 and 6-5 in the conference. More than just a blip in the standings, this game marks the end of UCLA’s unbeaten home streak and signals Indiana’s resurgence as a Big Ten contender, even while navigating injuries and adversity.

As the final buzzer sounded, it was clear this was more than just another regular season game. It was a showcase of resilience, execution, and the kind of drama that makes college basketball so compelling. For Indiana, the road trip continues with renewed confidence. For UCLA, the challenge will be regrouping and rediscovering the defensive edge that made Pauley Pavilion a fortress—until now.