NEW YORK CITY – Madison Square Garden is widely regarded as one of the most iconic arenas in sports.

The Garden has historically been fitted for the clashes of titans. Fifty years ago, boxer Mohammad Ali defeated Joe Frazier in Super Fight II. Saturday afternoon, the Big Apple hosted two more giants, and in similar fashion to the storied heavyweight bout, the all-time record holder prevailed.

In a game that featured 57 free throws, No. 18 UCLA men’s basketball (10-2, 2-0 Big Ten) surrendered a 16-point lead as it fell to North Carolina (7-5, 1-0 ACC) by a score of 76-74 Saturday afternoon at Madison Square Garden in the CBS Sports Classic. The defeat extended the Tar Heels’ all-time record over the Bruins to 12-3.

“You miss eight free throws in the second half, and (junior forward) Tyler Bilodeau sits half the second half, that’s the problem,” said UCLA coach Mick Cronin. “Then you still got the lead and turn it over after a timeout with a veteran point guard like he didn’t know the guy was going to reach in. You have got to deserve to win.”

Bilodeau and sophomore guard Sebastian Mack spearheaded the Bruins’ attack, recording 48 of their team’s 74 points. Mack registered 22 points, three assists and two steals on 54.5% shooting from the field and 75% from deep. Similarly, Bilodeau knocked in 26 points on 64.3% and 83.3% clips.

“He’s (Bilodeau) a fantastic player,” said North Carolina coach Hubert Davis. “He can defend. He can rebound. There’s not many players in the country that can score in the post with that patience, face up, mid-range, jump shot, knockdown three.”

UCLA also wreaked havoc in the passing lanes. The team’s defense forced 18 North Carolina turnovers – almost in line with the 18.4 average turnovers UCLA forced prior to the contest.

Mack – alongside senior forward Kobe Johnson – also led defensive efforts for the Bruins. The two logged two and three steals, respectively, and six different Bruins registered a steal.

While the game was ultimately a heartbreaker, UCLA led for the entirety of the first half, barring the 36 seconds North Carolina had a 2-0 advantage.

The Bruins led for over 17 minutes during the first half, knocking in six of their 11 3-point attempts and 16 of their 30 total shots. While UCLA had just one less turnover in the first half, it scored seven more points off turnovers and won the bench battle 22-16. 

The second half was a different story for the Bruins, particularly the last five minutes. UCLA was held without a field goal for the last three minutes and 42 seconds of the game and was up one with possession with just 21 seconds remaining in the game, before junior guard Dylan Andrews  turned the ball over.

Defensively, the Bruins also sent the Tar Heels to the charity stripe 35 times, including 19 times in the second half. With the abundance of fouls, impact players such sophomore forward Eric Dailey Jr. and Bilodeau were forced to remain on the bench while North Carolina built a comeback.

“It’s tough. I have got to be smarter,” Bilodeau said. “I can’t reach in on those or take silly fouls because it hurts the team, so that’s on me.”

While junior guard Skyy Clark didn’t illuminate the scoresheet, his impact was felt in other areas. The Los Angeles local recorded nine points, four assists and two steals while primarily guarding Tar Heel guards RJ Davis and Elliot Cadeau.

The former was a finalist for the Naismith Trophy and Wooden Award last season, while the latter is a former five-star recruit and a member of the 2023-2024 ACC All-Freshman team. Davis was held to 28.6% from beyond the arc while Cadeau was held to eight points on two-for-five shooting. Heading into the affair, the duo were the Tar Heels’ first and third leading scorers with 18.6 and 11.5 points per game, respectively.

Tar Heel guard Ian Jackson was the driver behind the offense, garnering 24 points and four rebounds on 61.5% shooting from the field. The freshman’s efforts kept North Carolina in the affair and ensured the 16-points comeback.

Ultimately, though, the late game drama saw the Tar Heels emerge victorious as two made free throws from Davis in the dying embers of the contest gave them the victory.

“There’s no silver lining in losses,” Cronin said. “You have got to make free throws. Your point guard has got to take care of the ball at the end of the game. That’s what real teams do.”

The Bruins’ success in the affair came down to their efficient scoring. UCLA knocked down nine of its 18 3-point attempts and shot 49.1% from the field. 

In UCLA’s sole loss this season prior to Saturday’s game – which came against New Mexico on Nov. 8 – it shot 5-for-23 from beyond the arc and went 20-for-55 from the field. 

If the Bruins continue to shoot efficiently from deep – a struggle that plagued last year’s team – they could make themselves a difficult team to handle come March.