Dec 23, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin reacts on the sidelines in the second half against the UC Riverside Highlanders at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

UCLA Stronger Than Before In UC Riverside Win

Originally posted on UCLA Bruins on SI | By Nathan Berry | Last updated Dec 27, 2025 9:00 AM ET

It is quite easy to look at all of the issues of a team without looking at a few positives that they have had, and that idea is very prevalent with UCLA.

The Bruins have had their respective struggles this season, such as issues with rebounding, in having a role set aside for Jamar Brown heavily to get the team's numbers up.

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However, they have improved mightily over the course of just two years, going from a record of 6-7 through 13 games in 2023 to 10-3 this season.

In that 2023 season, UCLA also faced off against UC Riverside in the same way as they did this year, and even the results of that game show how much the Bruins have improved, which must be appreciated despite their struggles.

The Differences In UCLA's Matches Against UC Riverside: Final Score

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There has been no occasion in which UCLA has lost to the Highlanders, but 2023 was by far the closest chance for the Bruins to lose.

In every game other than 2023's bout with UC Riverside, UCLA has won by double digits or more, and that was the case in their most recent matchup, where they won by 32.

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Yet only two short years ago the Bruins almost lost in a game that saw 66-65 as the final score.

With the same head coach in Mike Cronin, all Bruin fans must remember how far their team has improved in such a short span of time, going from nearly losing to dominating once again.

The Differences In UCLA's Matches Against UC Riverside: Shooting Percentage

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The Bruins were slightly worse than what would be hoped for when shooting the ball in 2023, making 40% of their shots on 57 attempts.

However, this year at least, the Bruins were willing to take more shots and they ended up making more because of it, but with a better shooting percentage this time of 50% on 68 attempts.

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A 10% difference in shooting percentage may seem small to some, but considering how their game in 2023 ended in a one point difference, 10% is not only a huge increase but a makeshift safety net for where the team struggles.

Much of the change in shooting can be attributed to Tyler Bilodeau who has helped the Bruins completely revamp their offense this season, but credit must also go to his teammates, three of which scored in the double digits.

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UCLA has had some issues with their game that are hard to look past, but they have improved vastly in the past two years, and that must not be forgotten as the Bruins enter conference play after Christmas break.

This article first appeared on UCLA Bruins on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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