Mick Cronin’s technical is the spark UCLA needs to beat Washington

Mick Cronin had heard enough whistles, seen enough fouls called on his team.

A tipping point came when an official didn’t return the favor on a contested layup by his point guard midway through the second half.

Tired of what he was seeing, Cronin stormed several feet onto the Pauley Pavilion court, gesturing wildly, complaining profanely.

A technical foul on the UCLA coach gave Washington two free throws.

It also provided the Bruins a needed spark in their 77-73 victory over the Huskies.

“I mean, it kind of gives you juice,” said Donovan Dent, the point guard who had failed to get the foul called on the previous play. “Like, when your coach is fired up, it gets you fired up.”

Cronin’s technical foul also galvanized fans who later chanted, “Ref, you suck!”

The decibel level soared as Washington’s Zoom Diallo missed both of the technical free throws. Dent then came up with a steal and fed Trent Perry for a three-pointer in transition that boosted the Bruins’ lead to four points.

Perry helped UCLA (17-7 overall, 9-4 Big Ten) hold on for its second consecutive victory and fifth win in its last six games by scoring 16 of his 23 points in the second half.

Cronin had two major gripes afterward – a defense that allowed Washington (12-12, 4-9) to shoot 50% and the officiating.

“No need to ask,” Cronin said, “I’m completely unhappy with the officiating, but they could care less.”

Was he standing up for his players by coming so far onto the court?

“At some point it’s a joke,” Cronin said. “At some point, you’re going to let your guys just get that done to them? And it doesn’t happen in other people’s home gyms. You would think I’ve got 50 wins. It’s a joke.”

His technical wasn’t immediately funny to his players.

“In the moment, I was like, ‘Yo, coach, we don’t need that,’ ” Perry said, “and he’s like, ‘I did it on purpose.’ So it’s all good. We went on a run and got the job done.”

What does it mean?

This was a win that UCLA simply had to get ahead of the most brutal stretch of its schedule.

It’s not going to move the needle for NCAA tournament purposes, but it avoided what would have been another crushing home loss after the double-overtime setback against Indiana a week ago. The Bruins are now 14-1 at home this season.

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Turning point

After taking only four shots in the first half, UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau came out firing with two quick three-pointers to start the second half.

He had to push through foul trouble after picking up his fourth with 10:37 left in the game, returning to make a tough floater in which he was fouled. He sank the resulting free throw to put the Bruins up by five points with 4:40 left.

Bilodeau finished with 15 of his 19 points in the second half.

MVP

Perry continues to play so well in the absence of Skyy Clark (hamstring) that Cronin keeps lobbying for his return next season.

“Trent’s parents can tell you of my desperate plea to keep Trent,” Cronin said. “You want to make good decisions? Find a guy with talent that’s got character and work ethic. He will improve.”

Up next

The Bruins get a rare late-season week off before taking what could be a season-defining trip to play No. 2 Michigan and No. 10 Michigan State.

The game against the Wolverines figures to pack extra emotion. UCLA will face center Aday Mara, the former Bruin whose continued emergence has made Michigan one of the nation’s top teams.

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