Forward Tyler Bilodeau #34 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against guard Andre Mills #7 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Forward Tyler Bilodeau #34 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket between forward Solomon Washington #9 of the Maryland Terrapins and forward Elijah Saunders #13 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Center Xavier Booker #1 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against forward Elijah Saunders #13 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Guard Donovan Dent #2 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Forward Tyler Bilodeau #34 of the UCLA Bruins drives to tthe basket against guard George Turkson Jr. #11 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Guard Trent Perry #0 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Guard Trent Perry #0 of the UCLA Bruins loose the ball against forward Solomon Washington #9 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Head coach Mick Cronin of the UCLA Bruins during a time out against the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Forward Tyler Bilodeau #34 of the UCLA Bruins shoots over forward Elijah Saunders #13 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Guard Donovan Dent #2 of the UCLA Bruins shoots against the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Forward Tyler Bilodeau #34 of the UCLA Bruins rebounds against forward Elijah Saunders #13 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Guard Trent Perry #0 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket between forward Solomon Washington #9 of the Maryland Terrapins and guard Isaiah Watts #12 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Guard Trent Perry #0 of the UCLA Bruins shoots over guard George Turkson Jr. #11 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Guard Trent Perry #0 of the UCLA Bruins shoots over guard George Turkson Jr. #11 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Guard Trent Perry #0 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against forward Solomon Washington #9 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Guard Donovan Dent #2 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against guard Darius Adams #1 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and former UCLA Bruins holds up the Commisioners trophy for the World Champion Dodgers in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game between the UCLA Bruins and the Maryland Terrapins at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Guard Donovan Dent #2 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against guard Andre Mills #7 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Head coach Mick Cronin of the UCLA Bruins during a time out against the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Head coach Mick Cronin of the UCLA Bruins reacts against the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Center Xavier Booker #1 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against forward Elijah Saunders #13 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Center Xavier Booker #1 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against forward Elijah Saunders #13 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Forward Tyler Bilodeau #34 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket between forward Solomon Washington #9 of the Maryland Terrapins and forward Elijah Saunders #13 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Guard Jamar Brown #4 of the UCLA Bruins shoots over guard George Turkson Jr. #11 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Guard George Turkson Jr. #11 of the Maryland Terrapins rebounds between center Steven Jamerson II #24 of the UCLA Bruins and guard Trent Perry #0 of the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Forward Elijah Saunders #13 of the Maryland Terrapins reacts after a baskrt and foul in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game against the UCLA Bruins at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Forward Elijah Saunders #13 of the Maryland Terrapins drives to the basket against the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Head coach Mick Cronin of the UCLA Bruins during a time out against the Maryland Terrapins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Guard Jamar Brown #4 of the UCLA Bruins reaches for the rebound against the Maryland Terrapins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Head coach Mick Cronin of the UCLA Bruins reacts against the Maryland Terrapins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Center Steven Jamerson II #24 of the UCLA Bruins rebounds over center Collin Metcalf #45 of the Maryland Terrapins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Forward Elijah Saunders #13 of the Maryland Terrapins rebounds against guard Jamar Brown #4 of the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Forward Tyler Bilodeau #34 of the UCLA Bruins is helped up by teammates after a basket and foul in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game agains the Maryland Terrapins at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Center Steven Jamerson II #24 of the UCLA Bruins rebounds against the Maryland Terrapins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Guard George Turkson Jr. #11 of the Maryland Terrapins reacts after a basket past forward Eric Dailey Jr. #3 of the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Guard Trent Perry #0 of the UCLA Bruins after falling hard on the court against the Maryland Terrapins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Forward Elijah Saunders #13 of the Maryland Terrapins shoots over guard Jamar Brown #4 of the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Guard George Turkson Jr. #11 of the Maryland Terrapins shoots over center Steven Jamerson II #24 of the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Guard George Turkson Jr. #11 of the Maryland Terrapins rebounds between center Steven Jamerson II #24 of the UCLA Bruins and guard Trent Perry #0 of the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Forward Elijah Saunders #13 of the Maryland Terrapins rebounds against the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Guard David Coit #8 of the Maryland Terrapins drives to the basket against guard Trent Perry #0 of the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Guard Isaiah Watts #12 of the Maryland Terrapins drives to the basket against center Steven Jamerson II #24 of the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Head coach Mick Cronin of the UCLA Bruins reacts against the Maryland Terrapins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Guard George Turkson Jr. #11 of the Maryland Terrapins rebounds between center Steven Jamerson II #24 of the UCLA Bruins and guard Trent Perry #0 of the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Head coach Mick Cronin, left, along with Associate Head Coach, Darren Savino of the UCLA Bruins in the second half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Show Caption1 of 45Forward Tyler Bilodeau #34 of the UCLA Bruins drives to the basket against guard Andre Mills #7 of the Maryland Terrapins in the first half of a Men’s NCAA basketball game at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, January 10, 2026. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Expand LOS ANGELES — Mick Cronin is in pursuit to fix UCLA’s defense. In reflection of the Bruins’ recent two-game skid and overall disappointing first half of the season, Cronin’s greatest focus, he said at Friday’s practice, was to “build a culture of toughness and getting defensive stops.” He pledged to explore all angles along that quest, whether it be changes to personnel, scheme, or drills in practice. Forward Eric Dailey Jr. confirmed he wasn’t kidding. “We practiced straight defense for two hours,” Dailey said a day later. “If for the rest of the year, it’s gotta be no offense, straight defense, so be it.” Truthfully, that might be the salve for a team that’s been one of the poorest defensively since Cronin arrived in Westwood. It certainly translated to a positive step Saturday as the Bruins (11-5, 3-2 Big Ten) allowed their lowest total of the season, in a 67-55 win over Maryland (7-9, 0-5). Sophomore Trent Perry started in place of Skyy Clark (hamstring) for the second straight game and led the team with 16 points, his fourth double-digit outing in the last five games. Cronin was more pleased with his team-high eight deflections. Eric Dailey Jr. added 15 points. Steven Jamerson II had eight points, two blocks and was a plus-14 in a season-high 23 minutes. UCLA held Maryland to 31% from the field and 19% from deep, producing a stifling effort without Clark and forward Brandon Williams (lower body), a duo Cronin’s referred to as the Bruins’ best defenders. The Terrapins only stayed in the game because they grabbed 20 offensive rebounds and turned it into 24 second-chance points. “Obviously, we need rebounding drills,” Cronin said, heartily kicking off the postgame press conference. “If we could rebound, we’d have won by 30.” Cronin kept private the specifics of UCLA’s defensive adjustments that contained Maryland. He broke into a monologue about the incompetence of basketball coaches sharing strategy with the media, only for their opponents to gain intel. But like a picture, his discretion told 1,000 words. He might have found a key to unlock this Bruins defense, or at least is on the path toward discovering one. Perry shared one noticeable improvement. “We over-emphasized talking,” he said. Talking really corrects a lot of mistakes. If a person gets blown by, we have someone on the backside talking to help rotate, we have someone to help talk ball-screen coverage. Talking about defense and attitude really helps make up for the mistakes that happen.” Communication is especially crucial when a team is experimenting through coverages, searching for a scheme that clicks, as the Bruins are. It took a moment for them to figure out the nuances Saturday as Maryland grabbed seven offensive rebounds and scored 13 second-chance points to take a slight lead after the first 10 minutes. But as UCLA settled into its changed approach, the guards began to deflect passes and create turnovers — finishing defensive possessions before offensive rebound opportunities could happen. The Bruins closed the first half on a 24-5 run, allowing the Terrapins one field goal in the final nine minutes. Perry hit a step-back 3-pointer and converted a three-point play. Jamar Brown swished a 3-pointer from the corner and scored a layup off an inbound pass. Sensing the surge, the Pauley Pavilion crowd urged the Bruins on and was rewarded with highlight plays. Jamerson spun for a layup and Donovan Dent threw an alley-oop to Dailey. A layup and a turnaround jump shot from Dent extended the lead to 38-21 at halftime. Throughout the second half, the Bruins slowed the pace of the game. They worked into the double-bonus with eight minutes to play as Tyler Bilodeau hit a pair of free throws to make it a 13-point game. That gradual tempo, however, made empty possessions costly, and as those stacked up, the Terrapins crept into the game with a 10-2 run. Maryland’s George Turkson Jr. converted a three-point play off an offensive rebound. David Coit drove past Dent for another three-point play to make it 56-50. The Bruins went without a field goal for 3:30, but Perry hit a corner 3-pointer to restore some cushion. “I’ve been confident this entire year,” Perry said. Spoken like a player in his second season under Cronin, Perry offered more praise to his deflection count than scoring total. He was excited to receive his first “dog bone” of the season, which UCLA awards to the player with the most deflections in a game. Those are the priorities Cronin respects, the mindset each Bruin needs to build the culture of toughness Cronin’s striving for. That identity was a given with Cronin’s teams in the past. The transfer portal era forces coaches to essentially reconstruct that each season. It’s certainly taking Cronin longer than he’d like, but UCLA made progress on Saturday. Down two of their best defenders, the Bruins put a lid on the Terrapins’ rim and withstood a late surge. ...read more read less