In a closely contested battle at the newly opened Intuit Dome, Skyy Clark and Eric Dailey Jr. the key to UCLA’s 65-62 win over Gonzaga on Saturday. Both players showed resilience and focus, each contributing crucial set pieces in a game that tested both mental toughness and physical skill.
Clark finished with 11 points, nine rebounds and seven assists and was instrumental in slowing down Gonzaga point guard Ryan Nembhard, who entered the game averaging 10 assists per game. Despite Nembhard’s impressive play, Clark was determined to make things difficult.
“Ryan is a great point guard,” Clark said after the game. “He averages 10 assists; it’s very difficult to speed him up… I did my best to contain him.
In the final moments, with UCLA up by one point, Clark stepped to the free throw line under pressure. He sank two crucial free throws to extend the lead, which coach Mick Cronin credited with helping him stay focused.
“Coach (Mick) Cronin told me we had a 1 lead, so I had to get both,” Clark explained. “He taught us to hit the front of the rim when you shoot a free throw, so I was really focused on that. He said 95% of the shots go in.”
Clark also acknowledged the importance of the win, reflecting on a previous loss in New York.
“It means a lot (winning this game); we knew we let a big one slip away in New York, and we still feel that,” he said. “But we definitely have to learn from it and move on. We just came into this game hungry, we didn’t want to lose at all, so that was our mentality.
Dailey Jr. stood out despite playing with a protective mask due to a nose injury. The sophomore guard scored 18 pointshitting 4-for-5 from beyond the arc and 4-for-6 from the free throw line. Cronin praised Dailey Jr. quickly for his efforts under unusual circumstances.
“He got his mask in front of his nose today,” Cronin said. “He hasn’t even practiced with it yet and is going 4-for-5 from three and 4-for-6 from the line. That’s what happens when you live in the gym.”
For Dailey Jr. he didn’t care about playing with the mask. The hours he spent in the gym helped him adapt quickly and find his rhythm in the high-pressure game.
“It felt a little different (playing in a mask),” Dailey said. “I spent hours in the gym so just finding the edge and putting the ball in the hoop, it’s the same thing I did every day so it wasn’t that bad.”
Together, Clark and Dailey Jr. helped. the Bruins to get past a resilient Gonzaga team. seal the victory in a match with three lead changes and eight draws. The poise and determination of both players were critical to UCLA’s successful attempt to close out the match.
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