HOUSTON — As the final seconds ticked off the clock at NRG Stadium Friday night, Norman Powell’s face disappeared behind a towel.
Sitting on the bench for one last time as a Bruin, the senior guard shrouded his face behind the cloth as he tried to regain his composure.

HOUSTON — It was as good as the Bruins could’ve hoped for. And it still wasn’t enough.
Unable to take advantage of an uncharacteristic off night from sharpshooting Gonzaga, UCLA’s dark-horse ride through the NCAA tournament came to an end – as did its season – as the Bulldogs defeated the Bruins 74-62 Friday night at NRG Stadium.

HOUSTON — Heartbreak City doesn’t refer to Houston, apparently.
After falling behind by 19 to Gonzaga, there was no late-game magic for UCLA this time, as the Bruins fell 74-62 in the Sweet 16.

HOUSTON — It may not be pretty, but at least the half is over.
That’s the best that could be said after the Bruins and the Bulldogs combined to miss 48 shots during a foul-ridden first half of play, with Gonzaga holding a 35-28 lead at the break.

HOUSTON — Well what do you know, another rematch.
After dispatching No. 14-seeded UAB in the Round of 32, No. 11 UCLA’s reward is a Sweet 16 matchup with No.

HOUSTON — Bryce Alford rose up for a 3-pointer and released, only to watch the ball clank off the side of the rim.
The next shot hit the front of the iron.

In March Madness, a team’s season could come down to a single scoring run.
Just ask the 2006 Gonzaga Bulldogs, who allowed the Bruins to mount an 11-0 run over the final 3:26 of the Sweet 16 game that year.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — When Steve Alford walked off the court at the KFC Yum! Center Saturday, he may have felt the need to pinch himself.
Because surely, UCLA’s performance in its 92-75 win over the University of Alabama-Birmingham was the stuff of dreams.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — UCLA’s inclusion in the NCAA tournament was deemed a joke by those outside the Bruin locker room, an egregious mistake on behalf of the selection committee.

This post was updated on March 21 at 12:10 p.m.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Bruins are headed back to the Sweet 16.
With a 92-75 win over the University of Alabama-Birmingham in the Round of 32 Saturday, UCLA punched its ticket to Houston for the next round of the NCAA Tournament, thanks largely to a career performance from junior forward/center Tony Parker.