In only the second all-time meeting, Penn State will take on UCLA as the Nittany Lions begin their five-day West Coast trip. This is the first regular-season meeting between both programs. The first overall meeting was in the 1991 NCAA Tournament. No. 13 seed Penn State upset No. 4 UCLA in the opening round that year.
If PSU were to win, it would earn its first Big Ten road win and advance to 2-0 all time against the Bruins.
GAME DETAILS
Date: Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025
Time: 4 p.m. EST
Site: Pauley Pavillion
City: Los Angeles
Network/Streaming: Big Ten Network
GAME ODDS
Odds by DraftKingsSportsbook
Odds: UCLA (-600), Penn State (+440)
Spread: UCLA (-10.5)
Over-Under: 140.5 points
GAME NOTES
Penn State (13-10, 3-9), 57th KenPom, 60th NET
Penn State brings a four-game losing streak to Pauley Pavilion Saturday. The Nittany Lions are now 2-8 over their last 10 and have only one road win this season. With eight games left, each loss carries a heavier weight regarding postseason implications, if they didn’t already. Here is an updated look at the bottom 10 in the Big Ten Standings:
- Nebraska (5-7), Games Behind: 5.5
- Indiana (5-7), Games Behind: 5.5
- USC (5-7), Games Behind: 5.5
- Rutgers (5-7), Games Behind: 5.5
- Iowa (4-7), Games Behind: 6.0
- Northwestern (4-8), Games Behind: 6.5
- Minnesota (4-8), Games Behind: 6.5
- Penn State (3-9), Games Behind: 7.5
- Washington (2-9), Games Behind: 8.0
PSU is only half a game up from underperforming CBS’ preseason projection but is only 2.5 games back from No. 10 seed Nebraska. The remaining strength of schedule doesn’t favor Mike Rhoades’ squad making that leap, but it is conceivable that Penn State, at a minimum, gets the last spot in the Big Ten Tournament.
UCLA (17-6, 8-4) 28th KenPom, 26th NET
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.The Bruins are the hottest team in the Big Ten, having won six straight games. They are coming off a two-point victory, courtesy of this Eric Dailey Jr. game winner, over No. 9 Michigan State Tuesday. That win was UCLA’s fifth over an AP-ranked opponent this season.
Saturday’s game wraps up a three-game homestand for UCLA. The Bruins are 12-1 when playing in Pauley Pavilion this season.
Key Leaders:
Tyler Bilodeau: 13.9 PTS | 50.4 FG% | 41 3P%
Eric Dailey Jr.: 12.2 PTS | 53.2 FG% | 37.7 3P%
Kobe Johnson: 5.6 REB | 2.9 AST | 1.8 STL (fifth in Big Ten)
Aday Mara: 1.5 BLK (seventh in Big Ten)
KEY STAT
UCLA ranks 11th in turnovers forced per game (16.17), turning its opponents over one of every five possessions. Penn State, meanwhile, is averaging the fifth most turnovers (11.9) in the Big Ten. Here is where UCLA ranks nationally in other defensive metrics:
- Defensive Turnover Percentage: 20.5 (4th)
- Scoring Defense: 64.3 (11th)
- KenPom Adjusted Defensive Efficiency: 94.0 (13th)
Synergy Sports
