Tag: UCLA Bruins basketball

UCLA rolls by Prairie View A&M

Another win for UCLA.

The UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team continues to string together wins. On Tuesday, the Bruins had no issues whatsoever as they defeated Prairie View A&M, 111-75, in Westwood.

UCLA scored 53 in the first half and then 58 in the second half in an offensive barrage.

A total of five players finished with double-digit points and Dylan Andrews led the way with 21 points as Tyler Bilodeau had 18 points in just 20 minutes.

UCLA shot a blistering 59% from the field, 47% from three, and 78% from the free-throw line in a big effort for the Bruins.

UCLA has now won nine straight games after losing to New Mexico early on, and the offense responded after a sluggish 57-point outing against Arizona in Tucson on Saturday.

Next up for UCLA is a showdown against North Carolina in Madison Square Garden and then a clash against Gonzaga at Intuit Dome.

UCLA moves to 9-1 with close win over Arizona

A close in for UCLA.

The UCLA Bruins and Arizona Wildcats are not in the same conference anyone as the Pac-12 saw a mass exodus. However, the two programs faced off against each other in a nonconference game on Saturday night as part of a series.

UCLA improved to 9-1 with another win, and the only loss for Mick Cronin’s team came early in the year against New Mexico in Nevada.

However, it wasn’t an easy win as UCLA came back from a 13-point deficit and walked out of Tucson with the 57-54 victory.

Tyler Bilodeau showcased his talent again with a game-high 17 points on 8-of-15 from the field.

Skyy Clark, a transfer from Louisville, added 15 for the Bruins and he hit two free throws in the closing seconds to secure the win.

It was another positive step for UCLA, and they face Prairie View A&M before a huge two-game set against North Carolina and Gonzaga to finish the calendar year.

UCLA hoops jumps to No. 24 in latest AP college basketball poll

The Bruins land back in the Top 25.

The UCLA Bruins have hit their stride after a shaky start to the college basketball season. Taking down No. 12 Oregon, the Bruins returned to the AP Top 25 ranking this week.

Landing at No. 24 in the AP Poll, just behind San Diego State, Cincinnati, and Big Ten comrade Michigan State, the Bruins are a perfect 7-0 since their sole loss to New Mexico in early November.

After knocking off two Big Ten opponents in a row, first Washington, then Oregon, the Bruins are finally rolling. Entering the season as the No. 22 team in the AP Poll, the Bruins are right around where they started. With Big Ten play to ramp up over the next two months, UCLA has an opportunity to continue to build momentum.

Given the transfer additions of Skyy Clark, Kobe Johnson, and Tyler Bilodeau, UCLA rightfully had high expectations this season. If their newly-added star players can take to Mick Cronin’s coaching, the Bruins should be in the hunt for a long run in the NCAA tournament this spring.

UCLA rolls over Southern Utah in 45-point blowout

This one was all Bruins.

The UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team had no issues against Cal State Fullerton on Friday in an 80-47 victory. On Tuesday night, they had even fewer issues with Southern Utah in an 88-43 blowout.

UCLA scored 43 first-half points, and only one starter hit the 20-minute mark: Kobe Johnson.

Lazar Stefanovic led the way with 19 points and five rebounds in a team-high 27 minutes as Mick Cronin dug deep into his bench with the game well out of hand.

Cronin was able to play a total of 12 players in this game, and the bench unit saw a lot of run with a lopsided score. Oklahoma State transfer Eric Dailey Jr. had 15 points and a pair of rebounds, and Dylan Andrews added 11 points with three assists in just 15 minutes.

The Bruins haven’t lost since falling to New Mexico in Nevada, and the next game comes against Washington in Los Angeles next Tuesday, so they have a week off before kicking off Big Ten play.

Photos of UCLA women’s stunning upset over No. 1 South Carolina

Photos from the MASSIVE win!

The UCLA Bruins women’s basketball team remained undefeated with a huge win over No. 1 South Carolina at a sold-out Pauley Pavilion on Sunday.

The Bruins got the 77-62 win over South Carolina as Lauren Betts had 11 points with 14 rebounds and four blocks. A total of five Bruins scored in double figures as Londynn Jones led the way with 15 off the bench.

It was a statement win for UCLA, and the previously-ranked No. 5 Bruins should see a massive increase in votes after the victory.

Here are some photos as the Bruins got the huge win over Dawn Staley’s team on Sunday in Los Angeles.

 

 

 

Photos of UCLA’s win over Idaho State

Through the lens on Wednesday night.

The UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team moved past Idaho State in an 84-70 victory on Wednesday night.

The Bruins have now won four games with the lone loss coming against New Mexico in a tough showdown. 

On Wednesday night, Sebastian Mack, Tyler Bilodeau, and Eric Dailey Jr. led the way for Mick Cronin’s team, and UCLA continues to find ways to win.

UCLA now has a short turnaround with a Friday home game against Cal State Fullerton and then a home game the week after against Southern Utah before the schedule gets a bit more difficult.

Here are photos from the win over Idaho State.

UCLA basketball cruises past Idaho State

Another win for UCLA.

The UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team began the year with three wins and just one loss, which came against New Mexico in Nevada. 

On Wednesday night, UCLA had no issues with Idaho State at Pauley Pavilion as the Bruins got the 84-70 victory.

UCLA scored 41 first-half points, and it was once again Oregon State transfer Tyler Bilodeau who led the way with 20 points.

Eric Dailey Jr., another transfer, added 16 points. However, Sebastian Mack broke free with 21 points, including an impressive 15-of-16 from the free throw line, as UCLA got the win.

UCLA defeated Lehigh by 40 points last week, and it was Dailey, Bilodeau, and Aday Mara who led the charge.

UCLA now moves to 4-1 on the year, and the schedule is favorable over the next week. The Bruins face Cal State Fullerton on Friday followed by Southern Utah on Tuesday before a pair of Big Ten games against Washington and Oregon.

Preview: UCLA looks to remain unbeaten against SEC foe on Sunday

Another game for UCLA.

The 3-0 UCLA Bruins women’s basketball team will look to stay undefeated at home on Sunday against Arkansas. The Razorbacks have started the season 3-1 but have yet to play anyone of the Bruins’ caliber.

Arkansas lost their season opener at home against Fairfield University 81-67, after the loss they’ve handled East Texas A&M, University of Arkansas Little Rock and University Texas-Arlington before heading to Brentwood to face the #5 ranked Bruins. 

The Razorbacks have relied heavily on senior guard Izzy Higginbottom, who’s found the bottom of net plenty this year, averaging 23.5 points per game with over four rebounds and four assists. Sophomore guard Kiki Smith is averaging over 14 points per game, ranking second behind Higginbottom for Arkansas. 

It’s uncertain if junior guard Kiki Rice will make her season debut on Sunday, but it’s been business as usual for the Bruins even without their veteran guard who’s made 73 starts over the last two seasons. 

UCLA began the 2024-2025 season with a close call in France, defeating Louisville 66-59 overcoming a third quarter deficit before collecting two comfortable wins over Colgate and Pepperdine at Pauley Pavilion. Junior center Lauren Betts deserves a lot of credit, as she’s posted a dominant 22 points, 11 rebounds and 2.67 blocks per game to start the year. 

Sunday’s meeting will just be the third in history between the two schools, with each school having earned a win. The most recent matchup came last December, where the Bruins earned an 81-66 win with Betts posting a double-double for UCLA. Tip-off is set for 4:30p.m. with the game broadcasting on the Big Ten Network.

Cori Close speaks of accountability after UCLA’s 81-63 win over Colgate

Cori Close chimes in on early season play.

The #5 ranked UCLA Bruins comfortably handled business in their home opener Sunday afternoon with a 81-63 win over Colgate University with junior center Lauren Betts leading the way with a 31-point game, missing just three shots from the field.

It wasn’t only Betts on Sunday, with Finnish freshman guard Elina Aarnisalo, scoring 19 points in just her second-ever collegiate game. Aarnisalo shot 8-10 from the field and 2-4 from three but she did more than just score the ball on Sunday, getting two steals, five rebounds and six assists. The freshman did turn the ball over six times in the win but her impact with the absence of Kiki Rice and Charlisse Leger-Walker. 

UCLA dominated the paint throughout Sunday’s game, with the Bruins outrebounding Colgate 37-28 and had 46 points in the paint compared to the Raiders’ 10. Even with the win, UCLA head coach Cori Close wasn’t satisfied entirely in the postgame press conference.

“We can do better with our urgency, we can do better with our consistency on the defensive end, we can do better in our hustle plays. There’s more in us,” Close said. “That’s going to be my point of accountability for our program and I’ll teach through the rest. I know there’s a lot of people out there doing things for the first time but we got some work to do.”

As a team, UCLA shot 57.6% while connecting on 7 of their 17 three point attempts while forcing 17 turnovers from the Raiders. Junior guard Londynn Jones and junior forward Timea Gardiner joined Betts and Aarnisalo with double-digit scoring, with the fifth member of the Bruins’ starting lineup, freshman forward Kendall Dudley going scoreless in 22 minutes before fouling out. 

“There needs to be a balance of what I call the healthy tension, of stern accountability and just consistent teaching,” Close said. “There’s just things we need more reps and we need to know more.”

UCLA has another showing at Pauley Pavilion on Tuesday against Pepperdine University, with tip-off set for 11:30 a.m. 

Mick Cronin speaks on ‘push’ for statues to honor Bill Walton, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Cronin wants some statues.

UCLA men’s basketball head coach Mick Cronin voiced the desire to commemorate Bruins’ basketball legends Bill Walton and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with statues around Pauley Pavilion according to Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times. 

“Behind the scenes there’s a lot of push from their teammates and I’m right with them. What you find at state schools, it’s unbelievably hard to get a wall painted, let alone a statue built.”

Currently, the only statue at Pauley Pavilion is one of the legendary John Wooden, who was honored with the 8-foot bronze statue in 2012, two years after Wooden passed away in 2012. 

Wooden joined the Bruins as their head coach for the 1948-1949 season after signing to a three-year deal worth $6,000. Wooden remained in the position until 1975, by the time he retired he was 10-time National Champion and a record of 620-147 with the Bruins while establishing UCLA as an elite program over his tenure. 

Abdul-Jabbar, a Bruins’ Hall of Famer in his own right, had a near-flawless UCLA career, starting his career with a 56-point debut. Adbul-Jabbar, known then as Lew Alcindor, won three national championships in three seasons with the Bruins while also earning three national Player of the Year awards before collecting the first-ever Naismith College Player of the Year award before heading to the NBA. Alcindor had his No. 33 retired by UCLA in 1990, one of ten Bruins basketball players to receive the honor. 

Walton didn’t lose a single game in his first two seasons with the Bruins, with UCLA having consecutive unbeaten seasons that resulted in national titles. Walton won the Naismith award three straight years along with three national Player of the Year awards. Walton had his No. 32 retired along with Abdul-Jabbar’s in 1990.