UCLA Powers Through Aggies In March Madness Flop
Mar 20, 2025, 9:34 PM
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - MARCH 20: Kobe Johnson #0 of the UCLA Bruins and Mason Falslev #12 of the Utah State Aggies battle for a rebound in the first half in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Rupp Arena on March 20, 2025 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, Kentucky – Utah State never found the range, getting blown out by the UCLA Bruins 72-47 in the NCAA Tournament first round. The Aggies missed 27 of 31 three-point attempts, finishing the game shooting 30 percent from the field.
No. 10 Utah State opened the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the UCLA Bruins at Rupp Arena on Thursday, March 20.
Final from Lexington.
Thanks for your support all season, Aggie Nation. pic.twitter.com/RJo6Lq1Dim
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) March 21, 2025
Mason Falslev was the Aggies’ lone bright spot, erupting for a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double. The Sky View High School product added three assists and two steals in the loss.
Ian Martinez’s 36-game double-digit points streak came to a crashing end in his final college appearance. The former Utah and Maryland guard went 1-of-11 from the floor, finishing with two points and three assists.
Skyy Clark and Eric Dailey Jr. led the Bruins with 14 points apiece.
First Half
UCLA opened the game with a corner three from Dylan Andrews that beat the shot clock. The Aggies answered on the other end with triples from Mason Falslev and Tucker Anderson to take an early 6-3 lead.
The first five minutes were played at a high pace, and both programs ran up and down the floor. The Aggies’ game plan was to control the pace, and Jerrod Calhoun’s group did a great job opening the night.
At the first media timeout, the game was tied 8-8.
Slick ball movement for the Skyy Clark jam 😤#MarchMadness @UCLAMBB pic.twitter.com/o75oNh6A5c
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2025
UCLA came out of the timeout with a 9-2 run, building a 19-12 lead with 11:30 left in the half. The Aggies committed four turnovers in the first eight minutes.
Six offensive rebounds helped Utah State stay close despite careless ball handling. Falslev’s nine points, five boards, and two steals in the first 12 minutes also contributed.
Great find by Mason Falslev to get Karson Templin a bucket down low 🪣#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/1tavIlCpDW
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 21, 2025
USU settled in, cutting the deficit to 23-22 with a 6-0 run, but the success wouldn’t last.
The Bruins responded with a 14-0 run while holding Utah State scoreless for over three minutes of play. USU closed the half with two free throws in the final 4:26, falling behind 39-27 at the break.
At the half. pic.twitter.com/1ANpvrp7P8
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) March 21, 2025
Falslev fell one rebound short of a first-half double-double, finishing with 13 points, two assists, and two steals. No other Aggie scored more than four.
Skyy Clark, Dylan Andrewsm, and Aday Mara led the Bruins with eight points each.
Second Half
7’3 UCLA center Aday Mara appeared to reaggravate a previous ankle injury two minutes into the second half. Mara made his way to the bench with the Bruins leading 42-31.
After opening the game with two quick threes, USU missed 18 straight from deep while shooting 31.7 percent (13-of-41) from the floor. The disastrous offensive numbers helped the Bruins take a 14-point lead into the first media timeout.
Second half starts now!#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/WFrt9TaTFs
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) March 21, 2025
Isaac Johnson broke the Aggie shooting slump with a wing three, cutting the deficit to 11.
Another sudden 9-0 run from the Bruins made it a 56-36 game with 12:55 left.
UCLA outscored Utah State 22-9 over the first 11 minutes of the half, a drought too big to overcome.
The Bruins pulled away for a 72-47 win.
Following Utah State With KSL Sports Zone
The 2025 NCAA Tournament begins with the First Four on March 18-19. First and second-round games will be played March 20-23. The 2025 Final Four starts on Saturday, April 5, in San Antonio, Texas.
Listen to USU basketball games on KSL Sports Zone with Scott Garrard on the call.
Find KSL Sports coverage of Utah State University Athletics here.
Take us with you wherever you go.
Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X and Instagram and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
