LOS ANGELES - The no. 15 UCLA Bruins stared down a hard fought matchup from an unlikely aggressor in the University of West Georgia Monday night, but came away from the game with an 83-62 win despite UWG raining down threes in the first half.
Most of the Bruins roster was ready to go for Monday night, but there was one notable absence: senior guard Donovan Dent, who sat out the game to rest and recover. Head coach Mick Cronin described Dent as "banged up" in a few different areas, but expects him to be ready to go for the Bruins' next bout on Friday.
Dent's absence opened the door for sophomore guard Trent Perry, who got his first start of the season.
Jordan Teller - The Sporting Tribune
Guard Trent Perry #0 of the UCLA Bruins lays the ball up during an NCAA basketball game against the West Georgia Wolves, Monday November 10, 2025 in Los Angeles, Calif.
Perry the Quarterback
"Trent did a great job in the 37 minutes. He's getting better. I liked the fact that he had five [defensive] rebounds and the fact that he had nine assists," Cronin said. "I thought he made some great reads too, off certain plays that we ran he read the defense, did a good job. That's what you've got to do as a quarterback, call the plays. If the quarterback can't deliver the ball, you're pretty limited."
Perry was in the "quarterback" position of the basketball court in point guard. While fans have grown accustomed to seeing Perry play more of a shooting guard role, he practices at the point in team scrimmages when facing off against Dent, so he has plenty of simulated experience running the offense and facilitating plays.
Perry scored 17 points while shooting 5-11 from the field, and he made an impact defensively across the court, helping the Bruins along to big drives. Cronin praised the progress he's seen in Perry's "defensive mind" and that his offense will come along with experience.
Playing with Enthusiasm
Perry wears his heart on his sleeve when he's on the court, and it shows in the his game. He's a fiery, active competitor and he's clearly dedicated to his craft. Still such a young player at 20, Perry brings a lot of energy and has already shown he has the mental fortitude to outlast frustrating moments.
"My dad always says 'play with enthusiasm.' The game is supposed to be played fun, like how it was when we was kids," Perry said. "Whether it was tough times, that the other team went on a run, at the end of the day that's basketball. So, you have to turn it into positive energy and pick it up."
It was a last-minute realization for Perry that he was going to be the starter on Monday night. He said he found out "within five minutes" of the game, but the mentality that he has keeps him prepared for anything he needs to do on the court.
"My dad always told me 'create an impact whether you're coming off the bench or starting.' Because I had no other mindset, my mindset didn't change."
Perry will likely be relegated back to the bench when Dent makes his return, but the sophomore guard has a lot of college ball ahead off him and the potential to be an outstanding player. He's already worked hard and will keep working hard, and the experience he gathered Monday night is an early step in his journey.
"He's worked hard. You see how much stronger he is. He's worked hard and done a great job on his body. So it doesn't surprise me. So, this is great experience for him to have to play that many minutes," Cronin said.