UCLA guard Skyy Clark gestures after a basket during the second half of their game against Arizona State on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) UCLA guard Trent Perry holds the ball as Arizona State forward Andrija Grbovic defends during the first half on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Arizona State center Massamba Diop, left, goes to the basket during the first half of their game against UCLA on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) UCLA guard Donovan Dent gets to the basket for a layup as Arizona State forward Andrija Grbovic defends during the second half on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Arizona State guard Maurice Odum drives as UCLA guard Donovan Dent defends during the first half on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) UCLA guard Trent Perry looks to shoot during the second half of their game against Arizona State on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau, right, defends against Arizona State forward Santiago Trouet during the first half on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau, right, defends against Arizona State forward Santiago Trouet during the first half on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) UCLA guard Donovan Dent drives during the second half of their game against Arizona State on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Arizona State forward Andrija Grbovic, right, drives as UCLA guard Brandon Williams defends during the first half on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) UCLA guard Skyy Clark takes a 3-point shot as Arizona State guard Maurice Odum defends during the second half on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Arizona State guard Maurice Odum drives as UCLA guard Donovan Dent defends during the first half on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) UCLA players huddle during a timeout in the second half of their game against Arizona State on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) UCLA guard Trent Perry handles the ball as Arizona State forward Allen Mukeba defends during the second half on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) UCLA guard Skyy Clark celebrates during the second half of their game against Arizona State on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Arizona State guard Anthony Johnson goes up for a shot as UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau defends during the first half on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) UCLA forward Xavier Booker (1) drives to the basket as Arizona State center Massamba Diop (35) defends during the second half on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) UCLA guard Donovan Dent drives to the basket as Arizona State forward Andrija Grbovic defends during the second half on Wednesday night at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau, far left, and guard Trent Perry, second from left, celebrate on the bench during the second half of their game against Arizona State on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) UCLA guard Trent Perry drives to the basket as Arizona State forward Allen Mukeba defends during the second half of their game against Arizona State on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) UCLA guards Trent Perry, left, and Skyy Clark celebrate during the second half of their game against Arizona State on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) UCLA guards Trent Perry, left, and Skyy Clark celebrate during the second half of their game against Arizona State on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) UCLA guard Donovan Dent looks to shoot as Arizona State guard Noah Meeusen defends during the second half on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) UCLA guard Trent Perry, center, embraces teammates before their game against Arizona State on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau stands before a game against Arizona State on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Show Caption1 of 25UCLA guard Skyy Clark gestures after a basket during the second half of their game against Arizona State on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, at Pauley Pavilion. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope) Expand LOS ANGELES — The UCLA men’s basketball team has had a wonky start to the season. That continued on Wednesday night, in a positive way. Mick Cronin-coached teams prioritize defense, but offense has come much easier for this group. On Wednesday, the Bruins (8-3) made a season-high 14 3-point shots. Point guard Donovan Dent showcased his dynamism, scoring 20 points to lead UCLA to its season-best point total in a 90-77 nonconference victory over Arizona State (9-3). The Bruins’ lead reached 16 points early in the second half. When the Sun Devils surged and cut the margin to two-possessions, Jamar Brown and Skyy Clark knocked down crucial 3-pointers to restore a double-digit advantage. Clark erupted for 18 points on six 3-pointers, tying his season-high from behind the arc. Each one came in the flow of the offense. Late in the game, he capped a highlight play with a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer off an ankle-breaking dribble and swift dish from Dent. Dent’s passing has been masterful this season, as he’s averaging a career-high 6.5 assists per game, but on Wednesday, he created for himself and looked as confident as he has all season doing so. “Everyone’s been uplifting,” Dent said after the game. “Coach (Cronin) has been giving me confidence.” Cronin felt that the matchup with Arizona State, specifically, would unleash Dent. The Sun Devils play an up-tempo style and increase the volume of possessions with their risky press and quick shot attempts. That pace ignited the engine of Dent, a race car in the open court. He got downhill with ease and displayed an array of nifty finishes at the rim. In the first half, he meandered around ASU’s defense, driving for an and-one layup. He banked in a floater, while drawing another and-one. He drove for a scoop layup, put back his own miss for another basket and hung in the air for a double-clutch finish. Just before the end of the half, he popped open on a Spain pick-and-roll action and Clark found him for a 3-point basket, his first since Nov. 3. Dent’s scoring punch continued in the second half. He kissed a floater off the top of the backboard and tickled home another off the back of the rim. His performance Wednesday was a direct correlation of his improved self-assurance. It’s a process that he’s had to work on, intentionally, after experiencing the first real slump of his college career. Throughout that rough patch, Cronin, his teammates and his loved ones have encouraged him to “remind himself of who he is.” Dent followed that advice. He watched previous highlights of his best games at New Mexico, mimicking the player in those clips on Wednesday. The one who the Bruins’ brass heavily pursued in the transfer portal. The one they hope to rediscover this season. “It’s just a lot of fun when you and your teammates are out there having a blast,” he said. Dent and Clark made up for a slow start from UCLA’s leading scorer Tyler Bilodeau, who connected on just one of his first eight shots. But he finished the game with a trio of makes to extend his streak of double-digit shot attempts to four games with 18 points. UCLA remained in control for the majority of the night, apart from a stretch midway through the second half. The Sun Devils intensified their full-court press, forcing the Bruins into rushed offensive possessions. On offense, they attacked the rim for easy finishes or trips to the free-throw line. They converted 25 of their 26 free throws, the volume of attempts frustrating Cronin. “It puts a lot of stress on me with the fouls they were calling,” Cronin said. “But I can’t lose any more hair. Concerned with my blood pressure. Some of those, we made bad fouls. Some of those, I can’t say what I really want to say.” Guard Anthony Johnson was 14 for 14 from the line and finished with 20 points to pace the Sun Devils. He attacked the paint for a layup and an and-one, taking advantage of Xavier Booker, who was hampered by a slight ankle injury. Brandon Williams spelled Booker and made an impact. He blocked Andrija Grbovic’s layup attempt off the backboard, sparking a transition opportunity that resulted in a Clark 3-pointer. While Booker and Steven Jamerson II were solid in help-side defense, Williams was UCLA’s best shot-blocker. His production in that facet has increased his playing time. “He does what I tell him to do,” Cronin said. “If you’ll do what the coach tells you, he’ll play you over guys with more talent.” “He’s just a disrupter,” Clark added. “He’s a super important glue guy for us.” When UCLA took a brief lead in the second half against Gonzaga, it was with Williams playing productively at center. An ankle injury cut his Saturday night short, but he continued his positive efforts on Wednesday. As the Bruins continue to look for rim-protecting options, Williams has stepped up in that facet. The Sun Devils’ efficiency from the free-throw line kept them alive. It masked a game that was certainly UCLA’s best performance of the season as it got a combined 56 points from its three offensive headliners and a contribution from a veteran reserve who carried the program’s standard on the court. 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