In a first-round game of the 2026 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, UCLA defeated Central Florida 75-71 on March 20, 2026, in Philadelphia.[1][2]
Late in the second half, Bruins senior guard Skyy Clark caught a stray elbow from UCF forward Themus Fulks as both players dove for a loose ball, chipping half of one of Clark's front teeth. The incident was captured on the CBS broadcast.[1][2]
Clark, a 6-foot-3 guard from Daly City, California, who transferred to UCLA from Louisville ahead of the 2024-25 season,[3][4] underwent examination by team medical staff after the contact.
UCLA walk-on guard Jack Seidler retrieved the chipped portion of the tooth from the court, an effort shown on the broadcast.[1]
"It definitely hurt," Clark said post-game. "I have a little lisp going on."[1]
Clark returned to play and made a free throw in the final seconds to help secure the victory. Seidler praised Clark's resilience: "That's toughness right there. Losing half a tooth and coming back into the game to help us get the win."[1]
UCLA coach Mick Cronin commented on Clark's appearance in the locker room: "He looked so good... Looks like a boxer... There’s blood."[1]
The win advances UCLA to the second round, with matchups determined by ongoing first-round results.[2]
Sources
- Fox News Digital, "UCLA guard Skyy Clark has a new smile he’s showing off after the Bruins’ 75-71 victory over UCF", March 21, 2026, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/ucla-skyy-clark-tooth-ncaa-tournament-ucf
- Associated Press, "UCLA's Skyy Clark reacts after chipping tooth in NCAA Tournament game vs UCF", March 20, 2026, https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-basketball-ucla-ucf-clark-tooth-injury-2026
- UCLA Bruins official athletics site, "Skyy Clark - Men's Basketball", accessed October 2024, https://uclabruins.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/skyy-clark/25185
- ESPN, "Skyy Clark Player Profile", accessed October 2024, https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/player/_/id/5107532/skyy-clark