UCLA dismantled South Carolina 79-51 at the Mortgage Matchup Center, holding the 36-4 Gamecocks to a stunning 51 points in the most decisive performance of the tournament.
The story was entirely on the defensive end. South Carolina, a program that has defined offensive efficiency all season, could not find a rhythm — not a crack, not a window, not a moment of breathing room. UCLA's 37-1 record was built on this kind of suffocating pressure, and they saved their masterpiece for the biggest stage. Every possession felt like a wall. Every Gamecock run was met with a counterpunch that landed harder.
For a Bruins team that has chased this moment all year, the margin wasn't just a win — it was a message. UCLA doesn't just claim the crown; they dare anyone to take it.
Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.
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