The UCLA Bruins suffered a frustrating loss to the Minnesota Golden Gophers 64-61 on Tuesday night. For head coach Mick Cronin, it was clearly a frustrating night. At times, earlier in the season, Cronin received some criticism for comments he made where he seemed to be throwing the players under the bus.

With some inspired play in the opening minutes, Mick Cronin’s players heeded his warning about Minnesota’s being better than its crummy record. They played suffocating defense, forcing four shot-clock violations before halftime. They shut down the Golden Gophers’ top player, holding Dawson Garcia to five points by the game’s midpoint.

Following an embarrassing collapse at home versus Minnesota, which saw the Bruins blow a 17-point lead and lose 64-61 after shooting 5-of-15 from the free throw line in the second half, Cronin directed his frustrations at Pauley Pavilion.