UCLA and Utah State Set for NCAA Tournament First-Round Clash

The Bruins' defensive strengths and inconsistencies face off against the Aggies' potent offense and defensive vulnerabilities in Lexington tonight.

The first-round matchup between 7-seed UCLA and 10-seed Utah State will take place at 9:25 p.m. ET at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky.
UCLA is favored by a 5.5-point spread, but expert predictions are mixed, with some analysts expecting an upset by Utah State.
UCLA boasts the 17th-best defense in the nation but has struggled with consistency, including a streaky season and late-season defensive lapses.
Utah State's offense, ranked 17th nationally, is led by standout players Mason Falslev and Ian Martinez, though their defense ranks 149th in efficiency.
The game will air on TNT and is available for streaming via platforms like Sling TV and the March Madness Live app.