By ADAM MAYA
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
November 23, 2009 10:47 PM
LOS ANGELES - UCLA expected to have its fair share of tough games early on: Kansas, Notre Dame, Mississippi State, and a few potential NCAA-Tournament teams in this weekend's 76 Classic.
One week into the season and that list continues to grow. The Bruins turned in another patchy performance Monday before dispelling Pepperdine, 71-52, at Pauley Pavilion.
"I think this whole preseason is what we've needed heading into this tournament," forward Drew Gordon said. "We're going to have our ups and downs and we're on an up right now."
Senior guard Michael Roll and his five assists led UCLA for the third consecutive game. His 17 points and five 3-pointers were just as important. Pepperdine had cut a double-digit deficit to five midway through the second half when Roll connected on his third 3-pointer of the half. He added two assists soon after and another 3-pointer as the Bruins closed the game with a 25-11 run.
(Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times / November 23, 2009)
UCLA guard Michael Roll looks to pass after penetrating the Waves defense in the first half Monday night.
UCLA shot above 50 percent (54.3) for the second game in a row. Gordon had a team-high 18 points, nine rebounds and three blocks. Guard Malcolm Lee had 13 points and three steals.
(Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times / November 23, 2009)UCLA center Drew Gordon power his way to a shot in the second half Monday night.
"We all have to keep contributing," Roll said. "Drew opens it up for me and Malcolm. Teams are definitely going to have trouble covering all three of us. At respective times we all have open shots."
UCLA was noticeably tougher on the defensive end, forcing 17 Pepperdine turnovers and holding the Waves to 41 percent shooting. Coach Ben Howland said he was especially pleased with three charges UCLA took.
Reserve point guard Mustafa Abdul-Hamid had 10 points and three assists — all in the second half — as guard Jerime Anderson sat out all but one minute after halftime with leg cramps.
The Bruins, which led 28-20 at halftime, limited Pepperdine guard Keion Bell to three points in the first half but watched as he briefly brought the Waves back. He finished with 22 points.
Howland says last week's loss to Cal State Fullerton in the season opener still hangs over the Bruins (2-1).
"When you get beat you have that sting in your feet," Howland said. "We expect to win. When you lose that game it hurts everybody."
DRAGOVIC UPDATE
A lawyer for UCLA starter Nikola Dragovic (DRAH-go-vich) says his client will plead not guilty in an assault case that led to his suspension.
Dragovic and a friend were arrested last week on a felony warrant charging them in an October incident in which the basketball player allegedly knocked a man into a glass display case at a Hollywood concert.
Attorney Jon Artz said in a call with reporters Monday that the other person was the aggressor, was drinking heavily and slapped Dragovic's friend.
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Bruins take (baby) steps forward in 71-52 win over Pepperdine
A week after shocking loss to Cal State Fullerton in season opener, UCLA gets its second straight win and exhibits at least a few signs of progress.
By David Wharton
The Los Angeles Times
November 24, 2009
For now, at least, the UCLA basketball team will have to suffice with small improvements, glimmers of progress.
Baby steps.
Still looking to work their way back from a season-opening loss, the Bruins kept moving in the right direction with a 71-52 victory over Pepperdine on Monday night.
"I'm sure losing that game hurt everybody," Coach Ben Howland said of the opener. "It should hurt. And that's motivation."
Playing before another small crowd at Pauley Pavilion, his team finally showed hints of the pressure defense for which Howland's program has been known over the last few seasons.
The Bruins prevailed with better shooting from Malcolm Lee and Michael Roll, and with Drew Gordon's continued development at center.
"I think it's just that our team is starting to click," said Gordon, who scored 18 points. "I think everybody's starting to feel more confident on the floor."
The Waves (1-3) are a rebuilding project under Coach Tom Asbury, their lone victory this season coming against Cal State San Bernardino
Howland expected to face a young but athletic opponent that might reach as deep as 10players down the bench.
The Bruins (2-1) wanted to pay particular attention to defending the wings against guard Keion Bell, who entered the game averaging 21 points, and forward Mychel Thompson, son of the former Laker.
Toward that end, UCLA came out pressuring Bell into an early turnover, Gordon jumping out to block a Thompson jumper on the perimeter.
It took a while for the offense to get moving -- again, the Bruins seemed confused about how to attack a zone defense.
But Gordon and Lee eventually found a rhythm and, when forward James Keefe flashed to the high post and hit a jumper, UCLA led, 28-20, after the first half.
That lead stretched to 11 points early in the second half and only a flurry of plays by Bell, on his way to 22 points, kept the Waves within striking distance.
Pepperdine inched back but only for a while, eventually falling by the wayside as Gordon, Roll (17) and Lee (13) combined for 48 points.
The Bruins shot 54% from the field and made 87% of their free throws.
"Teams are definitely going to have trouble covering all three of us," Roll said. "We all had open shots."
Still, the Bruins have plenty of room for improvement.
They have yet to enforce their will on the boards, allowing Pepperdine to stay even in rebounds.
And another concern -- point guard Jerime Anderson missed most of the second half because of cramps, prompting Howland to say: "We're going to force bananas down his throat every meal."
Anderson's absence forced the thin UCLA backcourt to go with former walk-on Mustafa Abdul-Hamid, who responded with 10 points.
But now the learning curve gets significantly steeper in the 76 Classic tournament at Anaheim Convention Center over the Thanksgiving holiday.
First up? A Portland squad that recently upset wobbly Oregon.
"Day by day we're going to get better," Gordon said. "We'll see where that takes us."
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Bruins finish easy part of schedule
By MICHAEL BECKER
The Press-Enterprise
11:05 PM PST on Monday, November 23, 2009
LOS ANGELES - Ready or not, here they come.
After early-season games against a pair of Cal States (Fullerton and Bakersfield) and a beachside school known more for its stunning vistas than big-time basketball (Pepperdine), the UCLA basketball team will soon face its toughest competition yet.
Over their next three games the Bruins (2-1) will play an up-and-coming Portland squad in the first round of the 76 Classic in Anaheim and as many as two teams ranked in the Top 25 if they advance to the 76 championship.
Then comes a matchup with No. 1 Kansas at Pauley Pavilion on Dec. 6.
A 71-52 win Monday over Pepperdine in which the Bruins continued to look lost on offense did little to instill confidence heading into a difficult stretch. And now UCLA has only practice time with which to prepare.
"It's really going to be tough," UCLA coach Ben Howland said of the upcoming draw.
The Bruins led by eight points at halftime and withstood a second-half surge by Pepperdine, a team that needed a rally in the final three minutes to beat Division II Cal State San Bernardino on Friday, 72-70.
Drew Gordon led the Bruins with 18 points and nine rebounds, Michael Roll had 17 points, and former walk-on Mustafa Abdul-Hamid had 10 points in place of starting point guard Jerime Anderson, who missed most of the second half while receiving treatment for leg cramps.
Pepperdine pulled within five points with eight minutes remaining in the second half, but UCLA scored 14 of the next 16 points to take a double-digit lead.
"This whole preseason is what we've needed," Gordon said. "We've had ups and downs. We're on an up right now -- hopefully we can keep going up."
NOT-GUILTY PLEA PLANNED
The lawyer for UCLA forward Nikola Dragovic said Monday that his client will plead not guilty on felony assault charges when Dragovic is arraigned Dec. 21.
Los Angeles-based attorney Jon Artz said Dragovic was not the aggressor in the confrontation at a Hollywood concert venue in October that led to charges from the district attorney and an indefinite suspension from the UCLA basketball team last week.
Dragovic did not play Monday against Pepperdine, the second game he's missed since his arrest Nov. 20, and will remain suspended indefinitely, a team spokesman said.
Dragovic is the lone returning starter on a youthful UCLA team that stumbled in its season debut against Cal State Fullerton and overcame a poor first half to beat Cal State Bakersfield in its second game.
He and a friend were arrested Friday on a felony warrant charging them with one count each of assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury. Dragovic was charged additionally with an allegation of personally inflicting great bodily injury on the victim, said Deputy District Attorney Michelle Dodd.
"When we get the evidence it will show that Dragovic was protecting his friend," Artz said. "He was trying to retreat. He left the third floor of this theater and this guy followed him out after threatening him. I would suggest to UCLA and anybody else to let the evidence play out. If he's guilty, so beat it, but I don't think that's going to happen and he should be allowed to play. There is a presumption of innocence in our country, just like with anybody else."
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