Less than nine months after basketball legend Bill Walton died at age 71 after a prolonged battle with cancer, UCLA school went all-out to embrace one of the distinct personalities in college basketball.

LOS ANGELES — Between celebrating Bill Walton’s memory and the potential for UCLA men’s basketball coach Mick Cronin to earn his 500th career win, anticipation was high. Both lifetime moments were executed, as UCLA honored the late Walton with video tributes and a halftime ceremony; and Cronin earned his 500th victory. But it wasn’t easy.

On a day the Bruins celebrated the late Bill Walton, big men contributed to the victory over the Buckeyes on Sunday at Pauley Pavilion.

Mick Cronin became the 77th men's college basketball coach to pick up 500 career wins, leading UCLA to its 20th win of the season on Sunday.

Eric Dailey Jr. scored 20 points to lead UCLA to a 69-61 victory over Ohio State on Sunday in Los Angeles to give coach Mick Cronin his 500th career win.

Mick Cronin and the UCLA Bruins honored the late legend Bill Walton with a solid 69-61 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes on Sunday. The win over the Buckeyes marked the 500th win of Cronin’s career. He’s been coaching the Bruins since 2019,