NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
UCLA center Skyy Clark has a new smile that he flashes following the Bruins’ 75-71 win over UCF Friday night.
The California native and senior lost his front tooth in UCLA’s opening round of the men’s NCAA tournament after catching a wayward elbow from UCF’s Themus Fulks when the two dove to recover a loose ball late in the second half.
UCLA’s Skyy Clark (55), right, has a tooth chipped by UCF’s Themus Fulks (12) during the second half of a first-round game in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
The accidental contact knocked out half of Clark’s front tooth, an ugly scene captured on the CBS broadcast.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
“It really hurts,” Clark said after the game. “I have a little lisp.”
While Clark was being treated by team personnel, UCLA’s Jack Seidler sprang into action to find the missing tooth.
“Somebody’s got to get it, somebody’s got to get it,” Seidler recalled.
UCLA Bruins guard Skyy Clark (55) reacts after having his tooth knocked out against the UCF Knights in the second half of a first round game of the 2026 men’s NCAA tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 20, 2026. (Bill Streicher/Imagn Images)
GREATEST COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAYER EVER TOPS 6-FOOT-8 OPPONENT IN MOMENT OF VIRAL WALKING MADNESS
The broadcast showed Seidler returning to the scene and picking up what was left of Clark’s tooth, which he said caused his cell phone to explode in reaction to his heroic actions. But for Seidler, the real star was Clark, who returned to play shortly after the incident.
“That’s tenacity right there,” he said. “To lose half a tooth and come back in the game to help us get the win.”
Clark, who averaged 10.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 steals throughout his college career, came back and made a free throw with seconds remaining to secure the Bruins’ victory.
UCLA center Skyy Clark (55) smiles after chipping his tooth during the second half of an NCAA men’s college basketball tournament first-round game against UCF in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PK Press Club APP
“He looked so good in the locker room,” head coach Mick Cronin said after the game. “He looks like a boxer. Keep trying to talk to these guys about my old days. He just looked tough. He looks tough. In the locker room, smiling. There’s blood.”
