UCLA's bench delivers in tight win vs. No. 18 Wisconsin

Big second-half performances from reserves Aday Mara, Sebastian Mack and William Kyle III helped host UCLA hold off No. 18 Wisconsin 85-83 on Tuesday in Los Angeles.

Mack and Mara each scored 15 points after intermission, part of 19 points for Mack and a career-high 22 for Mara. Halting Wisconsin's seven-game winning streak, UCLA (13-6, 4-4 Big Ten Conference) needed all those points in a tight clash that saw three Bruins starters limited with foul trouble.

Tyler Bilodeau and Kobe Johnson fouled out within 33 seconds of each other late in the contest. Bilodeau had 16 points when he was disqualified, but Johnson finished with just three.

Eric Dailey Jr., who had a career-best 23 points in UCLA's rout of Iowa on Friday, was limited to four points in 22 minutes due to fouls.

Mack and Mara each picked up the slack, scoring from the floor on 6-of-12 and 7-of-7 shooting, respectively, and at the free-throw line. Mack shot 7-of-8 and Mara went 8-of-11.

The last of Mack's made foul shots came with 30 seconds remaining to give the Bruins an 82-80 lead. Wisconsin (15-4, 5-3) turned to John Blackwell on its ensuing possession, but Kyle came up with a critical blocked shot.

Kyle went scoreless and did not attempt a shot, but he came off the bench to contribute to the defensive effort with a pair of blocks. Mara also blocked two shots, both in the second half.

Skyy Clark's made free throws after the subsequent Badgers foul gave UCLA a four-point cushion, which proved vital on John Tonje's 3-pointer seconds later. Tonje finished with a game-high 24 points and Blackwell added 23 before fouling out.

Clark (3-for-6 from 3-point range) finished with 12 points for UCLA, which shot 50.9 percent from the field and improved to 10-1 at home.

Dylan Andrews added nine points and seven assists for the Bruins. Steven Crowl finished with 11 points for Wisconsin, which lost despite shooting 51.0 percent from the field.

--Field Level Media