Mick Cronin issued a challenge to UCLA big man Adem Bona Saturday night following a 65-56 loss to Villanova.

“If he wants to be who he needs to be, he’s got to get some games with 12 and 15 rebounds. He’s got to go get the ball, man,” Cronin told reporters after the game. “Multiple chances to be a dominant rebounder and we’re not going to win until that happens. We’re too young everywhere else.

“He’s got to be an all-league player for us, so I’ve got to figure it out, I’ve got to get him there, I’ve got to get that out of him.”

Bona, the second-year forward for the Bruins, has one game so far with double-digit rebounds in the Bruins’ first eight outings. In UCLA’s three losses, the bouncy 6-foot-10 big man has averaged five rebounds. In five wins, just 7.5 boards.

Against Villanova on Saturday, Bona followed up a strong first half with a disjointed second half. He was whistled for four fouls in the final 20 minutes to foul out for the second consecutive game. He had a poor box-out attempt that gave Villanova a putback opportunity off an errant shot that drew the ire of Cronin.

The Bruins went with a two-big lineup again to start the game. They were outrebounded 43-38 — a second occurrence in the last three games. Two Wildcats had 10 rebounds each.

UCLA had a 45-41 lead on Villanova with 8:24 to play in the game. Then it gave up an 11-0 run that flipped the game and UCLA never recovered.

“We’re just not tough enough right now. Our margin for error isn’t what it has been,” Cronin said. “We’re the youngest team in the country playing a team that’s maybe the oldest team in the country, so we can’t have those kind of mistakes.”

UCLA (5-3) faces Ohio State next in the CBS Sports Classic on Dec. 16.