This post was updated Dec. 2 at 12:20 a.m.

Coach Mick Cronin has proved time and again that his team’s defense will refuse to fall behind – no matter who they’re playing – and will instead fuel its offense.

“We knew they were a team that likes to drive and likes to put their head down, so we were basically just working all week with the team defense and making sure we’re in the gaps. … When a player is playing one-on-one, you don’t allow that,” said junior guard Dylan Andrews.

Cronin corroborated this theory Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion, where he helmed UCLA men’s basketball (6-1) to an 88-43 victory over Southern Utah (6-2) in which the Bruins never trailed. The win marked the Bruins’ fifth straight as they put on a defensive clinic, garnering 15 steals, four blocks and forcing the Thunderbirds to commit 30 turnovers.

Junior guard Skyy Clark led the defensive wave for the Bruins, contributing three steals. Clark’s defensive performance comes on the heels of a 16-deflection performance against Boston University on Nov. 11 and a six-steal performance against New Mexico on Nov. 8.

Freshman guard Trent Perry also contributed in almost every facet of the game, adding five rebounds, five assists, three steals and nine points on 44.4% shooting.

“We prepared for a game really well,” said senior guard Lazar Stefanovic. “We executed what the coaches wanted from us and honestly – I said it out there – we made them look worse than they really are. They’re not a bad team. They’re six and one for a reason, so we did a really, really good job.”

Almost every Bruin was able to reap the fruits of their labors with nine players garnering either a block or assist. Highlighting the scoresheet alongside Clark and Perry was sophomore guard Sebastian Mack, who recorded eight points, two steals and two assists in 14 minutes against the Thunderbirds.

Bruin defenders held Thunderbirds guard/forward Jamir Simpson to zero points on 0-5 shooting Tuesday night, a stark contrast from the 18.4 points and 47.7% field goal percentage he averaged entering the affair.

Despite UCLA’s defensive prowess – one that ranked sixth in the nation in scoring defense through Nov. 23 – Stefanovic was the X-factor against Southern Utah. The Belgrade, Serbia, local notched a team-high 19 points on 66.7% shooting along with five rebounds and a steal.

Stefanovic, a mainstay in the Bruins lineup last season, has fought for playing time this season with the addition of so many new faces in Westwood – including six transfers who averaged 10 or more points for their respective programs last season.

“You have to always stay ready,” Stefanovic said. “We have a lot of guys that can score and a lot of good players on the team, so you have to stay ready. (Whether it’s) coming in off the bench or starting, it doesn’t matter – the point is to help the team win the game.”

While Stefanovic dominated off the bench, junior forward Tyler Bilodeau struggled in the starting lineup. 

The Bruins’ 2024-2025 leading scorer – who wa averaging 15.5 points and 6.2 rebounds entering Tuesday night’s contest – struggled against the Thunderbirds, garnering just four points and three boards on a 20% shooting percentage. 

However, growing pains in the starting lineup allowed players on the bench to see the court – and excel. While Stefanovic highlighted the bench squad that contributed 50 points, Perry, Mack and sophomore center Aday Mara combined for 23 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists.

Apart from the stifling defense that held the Thunderbirds to just 43 points, including just 20 in the first half, the Bruins struggled to hit shots consistently from beyond the arc, going 6-20 from 3-point land.

This theme builds on the Bruins’ pitfalls from last season – their inability to shoot 3-pointers. In the 2023-2024 season the Bruins shot 33.4% from deep, just above their clip against the Thunderbirds where they shot 30% from beyond the arc.

The Bruins will open conference play of their inaugural Big Ten campaign against Washington on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion before playing Oregon, Arizona, North Carolina and Gonzaga to finish out December.

“From here on out, we got Big Ten play starting in the next two games, and then you got three top-20 teams. That’s your December,” Cronin said. “So we’re going to find out. That’s on me to make sure we are ready.”