LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dramatic second-half reversal, the UCLA Bruins overcame a sluggish start and a double-digit deficit to edge the Washington Huskies 77-73 in a Big Ten Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Pauley Pavilion.

A crowd of 7,080 watched the Bruins, who trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half and were down 34-30 at halftime, erupt for 47 points after the break to secure the victory. The win improved UCLA’s record to 17-7 overall, while Washington fell to an even 12-12.

The most important part of the game was UCLA’s complete transformation after halftime, fueled by aggressive defense and clutch free-throw shooting. After being outplayed for the opening 20 minutes, the Bruins opened the second half on a 15-5 run to seize a lead they would not relinquish. The Huskies, who had been efficient and controlled before the break, were undone by 12 turnovers and an inability to contain UCLA’s penetration, which led to 23 free-throw attempts for the Bruins in the second half alone. UCLA finished the game 23 of 29 from the line, a stark contrast to Washington’s 12-of-18 performance.

UCLA guard Trent Perry, a West Covina native, led all scorers with 23 points, including several critical baskets during the Bruins’ second-half surge. He was a perfect 9 for 9 from the free-throw line, all in the second half, to help seal the game. Point guard Donovan Dent of Riverside orchestrated the comeback with a double-double, scoring 17 points and dishing out 10 assists while playing all 40 minutes.

Washington was led by Wesley Yates of Beaumont, Texas, who scored 21 points and blocked a shot. Hannes Steinbach, from Wurzburg, Germany, added 13 points for the Huskies. Guard Quimari Peterson of Gary, Indiana, contributed 12 points and 7 assists, and Zoom Diallo of Tacoma matched Peterson with 7 assists.

The first half belonged entirely to Washington. The Huskies shot 50 percent from the field and built their lead with an early 10-0 run, capitalizing on UCLA’s cold shooting and early mistakes. The Bruins managed only 30 points on 32 percent shooting before halftime and appeared out of sync.

The momentum shifted decisively in the opening minutes of the second period. UCLA came out with intensified defensive pressure, forcing Washington into rushed shots and turnovers. Consecutive three-pointers from Tyler Bilodeau, who finished with 19 points, and Eric Dailey, who added 14, keyed the initial run that erased Washington’s cushion. The Bruins’ offensive rating of 113.6 for the game, compared to Washington’s 108.1, underscored their superior efficiency down the stretch.

Washington fought to stay close, closing to within a single possession multiple times in the final minutes. A three-pointer by Quimari Peterson pulled the Huskies to 73-70 with 53 seconds remaining. After two free throws by Perry, Peterson struck again from deep to make it 75-73 with just 38 seconds left.

The final sequence, however, epitomized the game. On the ensuing inbound play, UCLA’s Eric Dailey was fouled and made both free throws with 21 seconds left to push the lead back to four. Washington’s last attempt, a three-pointer by Peterson, missed, and UCLA secured the defensive rebound to clinch the win.

The victory completed a regular-season sweep for UCLA over Washington, following an 82-80 win in Seattle on Dec. 3. According to Interstat’s ELO system, UCLA entered the game with an 83.7 percent probability to win.

UCLA next travels to face Michigan on Feb. 14, while Washington returns home to host Penn State on Feb. 11.