This post was updated March 22 at 10:25 p.m.

LEXINGTON, Ky. –– Mick Cronin characterized his opponent perfectly Friday.

“You have got to match their intensity, and I say that with everything they do – the way they screen, the way they cut, the way they go after the ball,” the coach said. “They play the game the way it’s supposed to be played, so looking in the mirror a little bit.”

And when two squads – both known for their defensive tenacity – match up, the “little things” determine who will prevail.

Fighting through screens, cleaning up the defensive glass and mitigating turnovers are atop on the checklist, Cronin added.

“I told our guys this game was going to be won by other things,” Cronin said. “Who gets a ball when it comes off the rim, who’s strong with the ball, they screen better than we screen.”

But even when those objectives are prioritized, the cards don’t always fall in your favor.

After a first half that featured 18 fouls and 11 turnovers, the little things were unable to help No. 7 seed UCLA men’s basketball (23-11, 13-7 Big Ten) as its season flatlined under No. 2 seed Tennessee’s (29-7, 12-6 SEC) glare after a 67-58 decision Saturday night in the Round of 32 at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. The Bruins’ offense matched its lowest output since a 66-58 loss to Nebraska on Jan. 4.

Two fouls apiece were charged to junior guard Skyy Clark and sophomore guard/forward Eric Dailey Jr. – the Bruins second and fifth leading scorers, respectively –  just 3:05 minutes into Saturday’s clash. 

“I was definitely smacking myself on the head on the bench,” Clark said. “I can’t put myself in that position. I know I got to be out there to help the team. So just got to be smarter.”

After the two spent just five combined minutes on the floor through the first half, UCLA was buried by a seven-point deficit going into intermission.

And when a team’s back is against the wall – and two of its stars are sidelined – leaders need to step up. 

But when the country’s fourth-stingiest defense in field goal percentage is on the other side, things are a lot easier said than done. Throw in two Defensive Player of the Year finalists – guards Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack – and every possession becomes something of a gauntlet.

The foul-induced absence of two of the Bruins’ top scorers coinciding with one of the most adversarial defenses in the country led to a disaster.

Guard Chaz Lanier, a finalist for Jerry West Award – given to the nation’s top shooting guard – took advantage of every defensive miscue, ensuring the Bruins would pay for a slow switch of physical mismatch. Touted as one of the best transfers of the year, Lanier finished the contest with 20 points on 4-for-5 shooting from beyond the arc.

“There were numerous times where they switched … onto our big guy and we did not throw him the ball, we kept dribbling the ball,” Cronin said. “And there was even one time we shot a pull-up jumper in the first half, we were winning, and (sophomore center) Aday Mara’s got a guard on him, we decided to ISO against Okpara (forward Felix Okpara). So our offense got us beat tonight.”

And Rupp Arena, less than 180 miles from Knoxville, Tennessee, teemed with throngs of white and orange and the echoes of ol’ Rocky Top, which only amplified the Volunteers’ successes and the Bruins’ failures.

While the Bruins attempted to mount a second-half comeback, Ziegler artfully manipulated UCLA’s defense. A finalist for the Bob Cousy Award – given to the nation’s top point guard – Zeigler racked up 15 points while creating migraines for the usually staunch Bruin defense, weaving and winding his way around multiple screens and creating wide-open looks out of thin air.

The Bruins seemed to validate the doubts about their roster Saturday night – lacking the firepower and personnel to withstand one of the nation’s streakiest shooting teams, as well as the offensive consistency to dig deep when the game starts slipping away.

UCLA’s defeat marked its first second-round loss since 2011. 

And the Bruins will now have to wait a full year – at least – until they start dancing again.

“I love this team. First year in the Big Ten, getting fourth. I thought we fought pretty well through the ups and downs,” said junior forward Tyler Bilodeau. “All-around good things about everyone, coaching staff, team, everyone else puts hours into this – couldn’t be more proud of this team.”