Michigan vs. UCLA score: Bruins survive another instant classic, advance to Final Four

For the second-straight game, UCLA has outlasted a vastly favored team in an instant classic game to advance in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

This time, the 11-seed Bruins beat 1-seed Michigan 51-49 to advance to the Final Four. The story of this UCLA team will be told for some time in Westwood, and Johnny Juzang (28 points, 11-of-19 shooting, two rebounds) will have a chapter or two to himself. He was clearly the most dominant player on the court, even after he suffered a twisted ankle early in the second half, allowing Michigan to close the gap.

He wasn’t the only key player, however: Tyger Campbell also scored 11 points and Jules Bernard made two big-time baskets — his first since the Alabama game, at least — to keep the Bruins in it. The Bruins’ defense was incredible as well, holding the Wolverines — who normally shoot over 50 percent — to 39.2 percent. That includes 27.3 percent from 3-point land. UCLA also refused to let Hunter Dickinson dominate the paint as he has become accustomed.

To their credit, the Wolverines didn’t allow UCLA to run away with it, even when the Bruins’ lead swelled to nine. Dickinson had 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting, while Franz Wagner had four points and eight rebounds. No other players scored in the double digits. Even so, Michigan had a chance to tie — or win it all — in the final possession of the game. Mike Smith took a potential game-tying 3 with just seconds remaining. The shot missed, but the Wolverines had one more shot on a catch-and-shoot after UCLA knocked it out of bounds. Wagner got the 3 attempt off, but it clanked off the rim, giving UCLA the win.

Sporting News tracked scoring updates and highlights from Michigan vs. UCLA in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Follow below for complete results from the Elite Eight game.

Michigan vs. UCLA score

MORE MARCH MADNESS: Live scores | Updated bracket | TV schedule

Michigan vs. UCLA live updates, highlights from Elite Eight

All times Eastern

Second half: UCLA 51, Michigan 49

12:06 p.m.: Wagner gets the shot off … and misses! UCLA has withheld yet another comeback, this time from 1-seed Michigan. They’re going dancing in the Final Four!

12:03 p.m.: Looking at a catch-and-shoot here. Now UCLA takes its final timeout up 51-49. Wolverines have missed their last seven shots. Will they make the one that counts.

12:02 p.m.: Smith’s would-be buzzer-beating 3 rattles out. Officials are now looking to see how much time is left after UCLA knocked it out of bounds; it looks as if there will be half a second remaining.

Midnight: Juzang misses the second shot! Michigan will have the ball with 6.0 seconds left to tie it or win it all. Wolverines just used their last timeout, so that’s all that’s left.

11:59 p.m.: If Juzang gets this second shot … will Cronin actually foul up three this time?

11:58 p.m.: Juzang makes the first to make it 51-49 UCLA. Howard takes a timeout to try and ice him.

11:58 p.m.: Juzang’s the one fouled on the one-and-one. He’s shooting over 90 percent from the charity stripe this year. There are 6.3 seconds left. UCLA leads 50-49.

11:57 p.m.: Michigan called for a foul before the inbound pass. One more to give.

11:56 p.m.: Wagner airballs a 3 and Brooks can’t get the putback. UCLA has the ball and now Michigan has to give two more fouls to get them to the line. There are 6.8 seconds left.

11:54 p.m.: Jaquez misses the corner 3 and gives Michigan the ball with 19.8 seconds left. Any score will give Michigan the lead.

The shot clock is off. Timeout Wolverines.

11:52 p.m.: Timeout UCLA with 35.9 seconds remaining. Something to note: Michigan only has four team fouls, so the Wolverines may want to consider hacking at UCLA coming out of this.

11:52 p.m.: He rattles in the second; 50-49 UCLA.

11:52 p.m.: Wagner makes the first. It’s 50-48 UCLA.

11:51 p.m.: Wagner goes to the free-throw line with the potential to make it a one-point game. Riley fouls out for UCLA with 44 seconds remaining.

11:50 p.m.: Juzang darts under the basket and scores over Dickinson with under a minute left. It’s 50-47 UCLA.

11:49 p.m.: Dickinson can’t get the bucket with Riley in defense, but Michigan gets the ball off the possession arrow after a tie-up.

11:45 p.m.: Now UCLA is hit with a shot clock violation. It’s Michigan’s ball coming out of the media timeout with 2:26 remaining.

11:45 p.m.: Wagner misses on a good look at the basket. Michigan still trails 48-47 with two-and-a-half to go.

11:43 p.m.: UCLA’s Jules Bernard hits his second bucket in as many possessions. Those were his first makes at least since the Alabama game.

11:43 p.m.: Dickinson makes the second of two free-throw attempts, giving Michigan a 47-46 lead with four-and-a-half minutes left in regulation.

11:41 p.m.: There’s another Michigan 3, this one from Brown. That ties it at 46. Michigan now has 15 points off the bench compared to zero for UCLA.

11:37 p.m.: Davis is called for a travel after Juzang retakes the lead for UCLA. It will be Bruins ball coming out of the media timeout with 6:13 left in the game.

11:36 p.m.: A Mike Smith 3 has given Michigan their first lead since it was 17-16. Michigan leads 43-42 with fewer than seven minutes remaining. It’s his first made basket of the game.

11:33 p.m.: Excellent defense by Brandon Johns Jr. to block a Juzang fastbreak layup attempt. Bruins have the ball up 40-38 with 9:20 remaining.

11:31 p.m.: Austin Davis gets an and-one to bring the Wolverines within two points at 38-36. Riley picks up his third foul.

11:26 p.m.: Cody Riley puts UCLA back on the board with a hook over Dickinson. That makes it 36-33 UCLA. Michigan’s called for an offensive foul on the ensuing possession, giving the Bruins the ball after the media timeout. Cronin’s timeout seems to be working as intended.

11:21 p.m.: Brooks gets two buckets to bring Michigan to within one at 34-33. That’s an 8-0 Michigan run, forcing a Mick Cronin timeout right before the media timeout; he’s clearly trying to disrupt Michigan’s flow.

11:20 p.m.: Meanwhile, Michigan continues to try and work the paint with Dickinson. He has not scored on either of Michigan’s last possessions.

11:19 pm.: Nwuba called for another foul on Dickinson. That’s his second in as many possessions. He has three fouls and zero points.

11:16 p.m.: A trainer, meanwhile, has re-taped Juzang’s ankle; he’s back on the floor. Michigan has made the most of his absence with a small, 4-0 scoring run.

11:14 p.m.: UCLA’s Kenneth Nwuba called for a blocking foul on Dickinson; he took both of Michigan’s charges in the first half, and Dickinson seems pretty pleased with the reversal.

11:12 p.m.: Michigan is now dialing up the pressure with a full-court press.

11:11 p.m.: Wagner misses two free throws on the other end of the floor, but a significant development: Juzang is leaving the court limping heavily with some issues to his right ankle.

11:09 p.m.: Not to be discounted: Michigan has 10 turnovers in this game, well over what they’re used to giving up. That plus the Wolverines’ inability to score in the paint has cost them here early.

11:08 p.m.: Michigan’s Eli Brook is called for a … questionable … foul on Juzang, who sold it quite well in a “shot attempt.” He sinks all three shots to make it 34-25 UCLA with 18 minutes remaining.

11:06 p.m.: Another, 7-foot bucket from Campbell, who was defended well with Dickinson in his face.

11:05 p.m.: UCLA wastes no time with a Campbell bucket 15 seconds into the half. The Bruins extend their lead to six, their highest of the game.

First half: UCLA 27, Michigan 23

10:46 p.m.: First-half stats:

• Field goals: UCLA 11 of 28 (39.3 percent); Michigan 10 of 25 (40 percent)
• 3-point shooting: UCLA 3 of 8 (37.5 percent); Michigan 1 of 5 (20 percent)
• Free throw shooting: UCLA 2 of 2 (100 percent); Michigan 2 of 4 (50 percent)
• Rebounds: UCLA 15; Michigan 17
• Assists: UCLA 7; Michigan 7
• Steals: UCLA 3; Michigan 3
• Turnovers: UCLA 5; Michigan 9
• Largest lead: UCLA 4; Michigan 7

Also: Johnny Juzang is looking like the best player on the floor by a considerable margin. He has 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting and one rebound. He is absolutely smoking the Wolverines. Only two other Bruins have scored: Jaquez (four points) and Campbel (five points).

10:44 p.m.: Smith misses both attempts, making the halftime score 27-23 UCLA. It’s the first time the Wolverines have trailed at halftime this tournament.

10:43 p.m.: Michigan forces a stop on UCLA’s last first-half defensive possession, and Mike Smith streaks down the court on a fastbreak. He’s fouled in the act of shooting and will attempt two free throws with 1.2 seconds left on the clock.

10:39 p.m.: Tyger Campbell breaks up Juzang’s scoring streak with a corner 3. That makes it 27-23 UCLA with 1:08 left in the half.

10:38 p.m.: Two more Juzang buckets. He now has 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting, making seven consecutive buckets for UCLA. Neither defense is getting stops.

10:37 p.m.: And now Dickinson and Wagner have been called for charges on consecutive Michigan drives. Can’t get in foul trouble this early.

10:36 p.m.: Jaquez sinks them both to give UCLA an 18-17 lead.

10:32 p.m.: Wagner is called for a foul on Jaquez with 3:40 left in the half. He’ll attempt two free throws with a chance to give UCLA a lead when the game comes out of media timeout.

10:30 p.m.: Michigan has no answer for Juzang. Jaquez hits him with an assist and he lays up in tradition. He makes it 17-16 Michigan. That’s 12 straight points for him (and UCLA).

10:27 p.m.: Juzang hits another long 2 to score 10 straight for the Bruins and bring the score to 15-14 Michigan.

10:20 p.m.: Another 3 from Juzang, who is now 4 for 6 at the media timeout. He has 10 points and has brought the score to 15-12 Michigan.

10:19 p.m.: Another Juzang bucket, this one for 3. He makes it 13-9 UCLA with consecutive scores.

10:18 p.m.: And there’s Juzang again with another bucket to break Michigan’s run. He has four of UCLA’s six points.

10:16 p.m.: A Chaundee Brown Jr. 3-pointer makes it 11-4 Michigan and gives the Wolverines a 9-0 scoring run.

10:11 p.m.: Michigan leads 8-4 at the second media timeout. Not exactly scoring like Gonzaga out there.

10:09 p.m.: Both teams have three turnovers and are shooting less than 50 percent roughly seven minutes into this game. Michigan leads 6-4 but it’s ugly early.

10:02 p.m.: Johnny Juzang with the jumper to get UCLA on the board and tie it at 2-2. Both teams looking a little rusty shooting the ball in the opening minutes.

9:59 p.m.: Michigan’s Brandon Johns Jr. gets the steal and scores on the fastbreak to start the scoring at 2-0 Wolverines.

How to watch Michigan vs. UCLA

Tuesday’s Elite Eight game between Gonzaga and USC is scheduled to tip-off at 9:57 p.m. ET (6:57 p.m. PT) after the conclusion of Gonzaga vs. USC.

It will be broadcast nationally on TBS with Brian Anderson, Jim Jackson and Allie LaForce on the call. You can stream the game on March Madness Live, the online home of every 2021 NCAA Tournament game.

March Madness Final Four schedule 2021

Saturday, April 3

NCAA Tournament national championship

Monday, April 5