Mick Cronin secures 500th win as UCLA defeats Ohio State 69-61

Mick Cronin achieved his 500th career victory as the UCLA Bruins defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 69-61 on Sunday, a game marked by tributes to the late Bill Walton. The Bruins honored Walton, a two-time national champion with UCLA who passed away in May 2024, throughout the match, with notable alumni including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar present. Eric Dailey Jr. led UCLA with 20 points, while Skyy Clark contributed 13 points, helping the team extend their winning streak to nine out of eleven games. Despite a close contest that saw Ohio State narrowing the gap to just six points late in the game, UCLA managed to secure the win. With this victory, UCLA improved to 20-8 on the season and remains competitive in the Big Ten standings. The Bruins will next face the ranked Purdue Boilermakers on February 28.