UCLA's Skyy Clark Loses Tooth, Seals March Madness Win

Skyy Clark had every reason to stay on the bench after losing half his front tooth during UCLA's March Madness thriller against UCF. Instead, the senior center came back to help seal a 75-71 victory for the Bruins.

The injury happened late in the second half when Clark and UCF's Themus Fulks dove for a loose ball in Philadelphia. An accidental elbow knocked out half of Clark's front tooth in a painful moment caught on live television.

"It definitely hurt," Clark admitted after the game, adding with a smile, "I have a little lisp going on."

While trainers attended to Clark, UCLA walk-on Jack Seidler sprang into action with an unusual mission. "Somebody's got to get it, somebody's got to get it," Seidler recalled as he returned to the court to retrieve the broken tooth fragment.

The moment went viral as cameras captured Seidler's retrieval effort. His phone exploded with reactions, but Seidler insisted the real hero was his teammate.

"That's toughness right there," Seidler said. "Losing half a tooth and coming back into the game to help us get the win."

Clark didn't just return to the court. He came back and hit a crucial free throw with seconds remaining to secure the Bruins' first-round victory.

Head coach Mick Cronin was impressed by what he saw afterward. "He looked so good in the locker room," Cronin said. "Looks like a boxer. In the locker room, smiling. There's blood."

Why This Inspires

Clark's performance shows the dedication college athletes bring to March Madness. The senior, who averaged 10 points per game throughout his career, put team success ahead of personal discomfort without hesitation.

His willingness to return to action inspired his teammates and reminded fans why college sports create such powerful moments. Sometimes the biggest wins require the smallest sacrifices.

Clark will need dental work, but he's got something more valuable: a tournament victory and a story that embodies the spirit of March Madness.