UCLA Guard Loses Tooth in Gritty NCAA Tournament Win

Skyy Clark returns to hit late free throw after taking elbow to mouth.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 2:05am

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In a physical NCAA tournament matchup, UCLA guard Skyy Clark lost part of his front tooth after taking an inadvertent elbow to the mouth while diving for a loose ball. Despite the injury, Clark returned to the game and hit a late free throw to help the Bruins secure a 75-71 victory over UCF and advance to the second round.

Why it matters

Clark's toughness and determination to return to the game after suffering a painful dental injury highlights the physical nature of college basketball, especially in the high-stakes NCAA tournament. His performance also showcases the competitive spirit and resilience of UCLA's team as they continue their tournament run.

The details

With UCLA leading 66-56 and 2:40 remaining, Clark dove to the floor to fight for a loose ball. As he was on his back, UCF's Themus Fulks inadvertently elbowed Clark in the mouth, knocking out part of his front right tooth. Clark sat up showing the jagged, protruding remains of his tooth. He walked off the court but returned with 2:01 left and hit a free throw in the final seconds to help seal the Bruins' victory.

  • The incident occurred with 2:40 remaining in the game.
  • Clark returned to the game with 2:01 left on the clock.
  • Clark hit the game-sealing free throw with 2.3 seconds remaining.

The players

Skyy Clark

A guard for the UCLA Bruins men's basketball team who lost part of his front tooth after taking an elbow to the mouth while diving for a loose ball.

Themus Fulks

A player for the UCF Knights men's basketball team whose inadvertent elbow caused Clark to lose part of his tooth.

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What’s next

The 7th-seeded UCLA Bruins will face either No. 2 seed UConn or No. 15 Furman in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Sunday.

The takeaway

Clark's toughness and resilience in returning to the game after suffering a painful dental injury exemplifies the competitive spirit and determination of the UCLA Bruins as they continue their NCAA tournament run.