UCLA BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: Bruins sign two of nation's top small forwards
By Jon Gold, Staff Writer
Long Beach Press-Telegram
Posted: 11/09/2011 10:21:44 PM PST
Updated: 11/09/2011 10:42:53 PM PST
UCLA signed two of the nation's premier high school basketball players Tuesday.
Now comes the hard part.
Waiting on a couple more.
For now, coach Ben Howland is ecstatic to get the signatures of No. 2-rated small forward Kyle Anderson and No. 15-rated small forward Jordan Adams.
A 6-foot-7 Swiss army knife out of St. Anthony High in New Jersey, Anderson is considered one of the top prospects in the country, rated a five-star prospect across the board and ranked as the No. 4 overall player in the 2012 class by Scout.com, No. 2 by Rivals.com and No. 5 by ESPN.
"He's got unbelievable skills for a guy his size with the ball," Howland said. "He's really improved his shot in the last year. He's really smart. He's way ahead of the game in terms of understanding the game."
Anderson is expected to play point guard on offense for the Bruins, though with the glut of small, quick ballhandlers in the Pacific-12 Conference, he might start off guarding the three position.
"It goes both ways - he has to be better at the other end - but he's a very difficult matchup against anybody," Howland said about Anderson's size advantage on offense. "He's a great passer, anywhere he gets the ball. Out on the post, in the perimeter, pushing it in the break. He sees the floor so well."
Adams, meanwhile, is one of the best pure scorers in the country, rated the No. 73 overall prospect by Scout.com and No. 74 by Rivals.com.
"Jordan Adams is a really good shooter," Howland said. "He's a team captain for Oak Hill, a very good team, one of the best in the country.
"We're really excited about him. Watched him play a lot this summer. He can play the wing, play the two, play the three. He's used to winning."
Howland now will have to get used to waiting.
UCLA is still awaiting the decisions of No. 1 overall prospect Shabazz Muhammad, who indicated he's waiting until spring to make his decision, and highly regarded center Tony Parker, who is expected to announce his decision in December.
Quick jinx?
The Sports Illustrated cover jinx has struck Westwood.
On the same day UCLA junior forward Reeves Nelson adorned the cover of one of the regional college basketball preview issues, he had an X-ray to determine the extent of an ankle injury suffered in Tuesday's practice.
The results came back negative, however, and Nelson is considered day-to-day but expected to play in the team's season opener against Loyola Marymount on Friday at the Sports Arena.
Nelson hurt his foot/ankle late in practice Tuesday and was held out of practice Wednesday but is expected to return today.
The team's returning leading scorer had 16 points and 10 rebounds in the Bruins' 80-72 exhibition win over Cal State San Bernadino on Sunday.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
UCLA gets rude awakening in opener
video from ESPN Los Angeles
UCLA gets rude awakening in opener
By SCOTT M. REID / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: Nov. 11, 2011 Updated: 11:21 p.m.
LOS ANGELES – UCLA spent thousands of dollars on giving the Sports Arena, the Bruins' new temporary home away from home, an overdue facelift.
Too bad the overhaul didn't include a bomb shelter.
Loyola Marymount buried No. 17 UCLA with a barrage of 3-point baskets, ruining the Bruins' opening night with a 69-58 upset in front of 5,382 on Friday.
The West Coast Conference school shot a blazing 66.7 percent from behind the 3-point arc, 75 percent in the second half when the Lions turned back a final Bruins run with a series of long-range bombs.
After UCLA regained momentum with an 8-3 run that cut the LMU lead to 55-50, the Lions' C.J. Blackwell responded with a 3-pointer from the right side. Lions forward Ashley Hamilton then slammed the door on the Bruins, draining a 3-pointer that put LMU up, 68-55.
"Obviously, that's a very disappointing way to start our season off," UCLA coach Ben Howland said.
"The locker room reaction isn't really angry, but maybe stunned is more appropriate," Bruins forward Travis Wear said.
With Pauley Pavilion undergoing renovation, UCLA opened the season with their first home game at the Sports Arena in 45 years. But seat covers and presenting the outside of the arena awash in blue floodlights could not dress up the Bruins' glaring problems.
Hamilton finished with a game-high 23 points, with Lions guard Anthony Ireland adding 21, nine of those points coming a trio of wide open three-pointers. Blackwell was 3 for 4 from behind the 3-point line.
"We really made a number of defensive mistakes," Howland said.
There were plenty of miscues on the offensive end as well.
"We took a number of shots that weren't great shots," Howland said.
Especially from behind the 3-point arc. The Bruins shot 13.3 percent from behind the 3-point line (2-15), missing all eight 3-point attempts in the second half.
"We were shooting too many threes," Howland said.
The Bruins were also unable to overcome a poor performance by point guard Lazeric Jones. With Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose, a high school teammate, in the crowd, Jones turned in one of the worst performances of his UCLA career.
Jones was 1 of 11 from the field and had as many turnovers as assists (3). Jones wasn't the only Bruin out of sync. Sophomore center Joshua Smith was limited to just 16 minutes because of foul trouble, finishing with five points.
The Bruins will have little time to regroup. UCLA plays host to Middle Tennessee State on Tuesday.
"We obviously have a lot of work to do," Howland said.
_______________
Loyola Marymount hands UCLA an unwelcome housewarming
By Arash Markazi
ESPNLA.com
November, 12, 2011 12:24 AM PT
LOS ANGELES -- If the UCLA Bruins didn’t already like the idea of playing their home games at the Los Angeles Sports Arena this season, they will like it even less after losing their season opener, 69-58, to Loyola Marymount.
With Loyola Marymount fans in the upper deck of the aging arena chanting, “This is our house!” and “Overrated!” in the final seconds, the Bruins, ranked No. 20 in the coaches poll and No. 17 in the AP poll, were stunned in front of a sparse crowd of 5,382 fans, many of which left before the game was over.
UCLA looked confused, lost and uninspired on the court from the opening tip, which has come to be an early season staple of the Bruins under Ben Howland the last two seasons with losses to Montana in '10 and Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State in '09.
Loyola Marymount outworked and outhustled UCLA in every aspect of the game and never looked back after taking a 34-33 halftime lead. The Lions controlled the second half and ran away with the game after going on a 12-0 run to take a 53-42 lead with 13:22 left in the game.
If this weren't UCLA's season-opener, perhaps a November game against the Lions could be overlooked, but UCLA fans that made the dreaded drive to USC’s campus to watch their team play expected more from a team ranked in the preseason for the first time since 2008.
Instead they got the same old team they’ve come to expect the past couple of seasons, which starts out slow and flames out late.
UCLA was primarily hurt by the Loyola Marymount tandem of Ashley Hamilton, who scored 23 points, and Anthony Ireland, who added 21 points. The Bruins consistently got beat by dribble penetration and The Lions kicking back out after drawing double teams, which accounted for the Lions being wide open outside and hitting 10 of 15 three-pointers.
The Bruins also attempted 15 three-pointers but hit just two and took one ill-advised shot after another and never was able to get good ball movement. The biggest reason for this fell on senior guard Lazeric Jones, who averaged a team-best 3.6 assists last season. On Friday night, he made just 1-of-11 shots for 3 points and committed 3 turnovers. Sophomore center Joshua Smith finished with just 5 points on 2-of-4 shooting after getting in early foul trouble.
Perhaps UCLA will improve in the shooting department when they get senior guard Jerime Anderson back, after he served his one-game suspension after he was arrested in July for allegedly stealing a computer, but even Howland admitted his presence would not have changed the outcome.
“We had a lot of mental breakdowns defensively and offensively we took a number of shots that were not great shots in key times of the game,” Howland said. “Josh never really got in sync and was only in for six minutes in the first half with the two fouls. They really did a good job on him and caused us problems with their help defense.”
The game’s only highlight for UCLA was the much-anticipated debut of David and Travis Wear, who had to sit out last season after transferring from North Carolina. The 6-10 twin forwards combined for 24 points and 13 rebounds. The only other bright spot was Reeves Nelson, who added 13 points and 8 rebounds. Everyone else in UCLA’s locker room wishes their season opener was actually next week against Middle Tennessee State.
“The locker room reaction isn’t really angry, maybe stunned is more appropriate,” Travis Wear said. “Anyone on our schedule can beat us if we don’t play 100 percent.”
Loyola Marymount wasn’t even playing at 100 percent for the game. The Lions’ best player, Drew Viney, who led the team with averages of 17.2 points and 6.6 rebounds last season, missed the game after undergoing surgery on his left foot.
“It’s a bad loss for us getting out of the gate,” Howland said. “We have a lot of work to do but I’ve been saying that. We have a long way to go.”
_______________
Loyola Marymount stuns UCLA in opener
Lions have more sense of purpose than 17th-ranked Bruins in 69-58 upset at the Sports Arena.
By Ben Bolch
The Los Angeles Times
11:35 PM PST, November 11, 2011
Loyola Marymount Coach Max Good recently joked that he had asked UCLA counterpart Ben Howland to send a second-level team to the opener to make it a fair fight.
It appeared as if Howland did.
The 17th-ranked Bruins seemed completely out of sorts during a 69-58 loss Friday night at the Sports Arena, their inside-out approach appearing more upside-down throughout a game in which they didn't have a coherent plan on offense and were equally bad on defense.
The Lions repeatedly beat UCLA off the dribble and played with more confidence and a greater sense of purpose throughout their first victory over the Bruins since 1941.
It was not the kind of debut UCLA was seeking in its season-long home while Pauley Pavilion undergoes renovations.
"The locker room reaction isn't really angry, but maybe stunned," UCLA sophomore forward Travis Wear said. "Anyone on our schedule can beat us if we don't play 100%."
UCLA junior forward Reeves Nelson was out of rhythm for long stretches and sophomore center Joshua Smith finished with five points and four rebounds in 16 utterly forgettable minutes.
But no Bruin struggled as mightily as senior point guard Lazeric Jones, who made only one of 11 shots and had three turnovers, equaling his assist total. Jones also failed to contain Loyola Marymount's Anthony Ireland, his quicker counterpart, who repeatedly made uncontested forays to the basket on the way to 21 points.
"I didn't feel any pressure at all," Ireland said. "As a matter of fact, since we are a small school, it actually pumped us up."
It might have been just the opposite for Jones, who was trying to impress former high school teammate Derrick Rose, the Chicago Bulls star who was in the crowd along with former UCLA standout point guards Russell Westbrook and Darren Collison.
The Lions used a 12-0 run to take control, and Bruins fans started leaving when Ashley Hamilton's three-pointer gave Loyola Marymount a 65-55 lead with 3 minutes 40 seconds left. Hamilton tied a career high with 23 points on eight-for-15 shooting, making two of his team's 10 three-pointers.
The Lions made history of sorts, ending UCLA's 36-game winning streak as the home team in the Sports Arena. Of course, it didn't mean all that much given that the Bruins hadn't logged a victory there since 1965.
The game had a subdued feeling from the opening tip. The crowd of 5,382 filled about half of the two lower bowls, and only a sprinkling of fans sat in the upper bowl. The student section appeared to be a few hundred strong.
Nelson, fresh off his appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated, scored 13 points but was a non-factor in the first half and badly missed all three three-pointers he took. The Bruins also failed to consistently get the ball to Smith, whose two early fouls limited him to six minutes in the first half.
UCLA was playing without backup point guard Jerime Anderson, who was completing his two-game suspension in connection with the theft of a laptop computer. The Bruins made two of 15 three-pointers.
The media's preseason pick to win the Pac-12 Conference might have trouble finishing in the upper half of the West Coast Conference if this was any indication.
"It's definitely not how we wanted to start the season off," said small forward David Wear, who had 13 points in his UCLA debut, "but it is the first game and it's a long season. We're going to get back to practice and do whatever we can to get better."
__________________
UCLA BASKETBALL: Lions crash homewarming party for No. 17 Bruins, who fall
By Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer
Posted: 11/11/2011 10:58:06 PM PST
Updated: 11/11/2011 11:34:07 PM PST
It wasn't an aircraft carrier, and the president of the free world wasn't in the stands watching.
While the UCLA basketball home opener Friday at the Sports Arena against Loyola Marymount lacked the pizazz and pageantry of the North Carolina-Michigan State match up on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson in Coronado it certainly didn't lack for nostalgia.
On top of the drama, the No. 17 Bruins could have done without in a 69-58 loss to the Lions.
Drama, as in their LMU neighbors giving them big-time problems from the get-go, never once backing down and pretty much controlling the tempo and game throughout.
As in the Lions' Ashley Hamilton torching the Bruins for 23 points and Anthony Ireland adding 21.
And their fans chanting "This is our house" by the end of the game.
"We really had no pressure tonight. We just wanted to play our game," Hamilton said.
"They drove us all night," UCLA coach Ben Howland said. "They were great."
As in UCLA forward Reeves Nelson playing on a sprained left ankle, and looking a bit out of sorts while scoring 13 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
As in UCLA sophomore center Joshua Smith never getting untracked, despite owning a huge height and girth advantage over the Lions.
Smith had five points and four rebounds. But he took just four shots in 16 minutes against a smothering Lions' defense that utilized a variety of different looks against him.
"He never got in sync," Howland said.
And finally, as in the Bruins taking poor shots offensively and making too many mental errors defensively.
LMU shot 66.7 percent on 3-pointers, making 10 of 15, and burned the Bruins time and again on dribble drives.
The Bruins took 15 3-pointers and made just two of them. They shot just 40.7 percent from the field overall.
"We took some ill-advised shots when we probably should have held it," UCLA forward Travis Wear said.
All in all, it was a dreadful start to the season for the Bruins but a memorable one for the Lions, who now have three wins against UCLA in 18 meetings.
"Definitely not the way we wanted to get started," said UCLA forward David Wear, Travis' twin brother.
Wear added 13 points to join Nelson for the team lead, while Travis added 11 points and eight rebounds.
The Wears, who transferred to UCLA from North Carolina in the spring of 2010 and sat out all of last season per NCAA rules, enjoyed productive debuts while flashing the skills that made them such high recruits out of Mater Dei High.
If you're wondering why the Bruins were at the Sports Arena to begin with, keep in mind they will play 18 games there this year and four at the Honda Center in Anaheim while Pauley Pavilion gets its long-awaited facelift.
The new Pauley is scheduled to open next season, but for now UCLA will play a little back to the future while playing the majority of its games at its former home next door to the Coliseum - and adjacent to USC.
UCLA played six years at the Sports Arena (1959-65) and compiled a 67-14 record, finishing off their stay riding a 27-game winning streak and consecutive NCAA championships - the Bruins' first two titles under John Wooden.
By the 1965-66 season they moved onto Pauley Pavilion, although they returned to the Sports Arena periodically during the years USC called it home.
Still, considering it had been so long since playing there as a home team, it took a little while for the Bruins to get a feel for their new digs.
The unfamiliarity, combined with a scrappy LMU team hoping to completely ruin UCLA'S home opener, made what seemed like a sure blowout a competitive game.
In fact, the Lions opened a 53-42 lead with 12:01 remaining on a pair of free throws by Hamilton.
The Bruins went on an 8-2 run from there, capped off by a layup from Reeves Nelson. To draw within 55-50 with 7:35 to play, and all of a sudden they were right back in it.
Briefly, anyway.
C.J. Blackwell answered with a 3-pointer and the Lions were back up 58-50, and three minutes later Hamilton sank a 3-pointer to put LMU ahead 65-55 with 3:40 remaining, and never relinquished control.
"We have a lot of work to do," Howland said.
UCLA gets rude awakening in opener
By SCOTT M. REID / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: Nov. 11, 2011 Updated: 11:21 p.m.
LOS ANGELES – UCLA spent thousands of dollars on giving the Sports Arena, the Bruins' new temporary home away from home, an overdue facelift.
Too bad the overhaul didn't include a bomb shelter.
Loyola Marymount buried No. 17 UCLA with a barrage of 3-point baskets, ruining the Bruins' opening night with a 69-58 upset in front of 5,382 on Friday.
The West Coast Conference school shot a blazing 66.7 percent from behind the 3-point arc, 75 percent in the second half when the Lions turned back a final Bruins run with a series of long-range bombs.
After UCLA regained momentum with an 8-3 run that cut the LMU lead to 55-50, the Lions' C.J. Blackwell responded with a 3-pointer from the right side. Lions forward Ashley Hamilton then slammed the door on the Bruins, draining a 3-pointer that put LMU up, 68-55.
"Obviously, that's a very disappointing way to start our season off," UCLA coach Ben Howland said.
"The locker room reaction isn't really angry, but maybe stunned is more appropriate," Bruins forward Travis Wear said.
With Pauley Pavilion undergoing renovation, UCLA opened the season with their first home game at the Sports Arena in 45 years. But seat covers and presenting the outside of the arena awash in blue floodlights could not dress up the Bruins' glaring problems.
Hamilton finished with a game-high 23 points, with Lions guard Anthony Ireland adding 21, nine of those points coming a trio of wide open three-pointers. Blackwell was 3 for 4 from behind the 3-point line.
"We really made a number of defensive mistakes," Howland said.
There were plenty of miscues on the offensive end as well.
"We took a number of shots that weren't great shots," Howland said.
Especially from behind the 3-point arc. The Bruins shot 13.3 percent from behind the 3-point line (2-15), missing all eight 3-point attempts in the second half.
"We were shooting too many threes," Howland said.
The Bruins were also unable to overcome a poor performance by point guard Lazeric Jones. With Chicago Bulls star Derrick Rose, a high school teammate, in the crowd, Jones turned in one of the worst performances of his UCLA career.
Jones was 1 of 11 from the field and had as many turnovers as assists (3). Jones wasn't the only Bruin out of sync. Sophomore center Joshua Smith was limited to just 16 minutes because of foul trouble, finishing with five points.
The Bruins will have little time to regroup. UCLA plays host to Middle Tennessee State on Tuesday.
"We obviously have a lot of work to do," Howland said.
_______________
Loyola Marymount hands UCLA an unwelcome housewarming
By Arash Markazi
ESPNLA.com
November, 12, 2011 12:24 AM PT
LOS ANGELES -- If the UCLA Bruins didn’t already like the idea of playing their home games at the Los Angeles Sports Arena this season, they will like it even less after losing their season opener, 69-58, to Loyola Marymount.
With Loyola Marymount fans in the upper deck of the aging arena chanting, “This is our house!” and “Overrated!” in the final seconds, the Bruins, ranked No. 20 in the coaches poll and No. 17 in the AP poll, were stunned in front of a sparse crowd of 5,382 fans, many of which left before the game was over.
UCLA looked confused, lost and uninspired on the court from the opening tip, which has come to be an early season staple of the Bruins under Ben Howland the last two seasons with losses to Montana in '10 and Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State in '09.
Loyola Marymount outworked and outhustled UCLA in every aspect of the game and never looked back after taking a 34-33 halftime lead. The Lions controlled the second half and ran away with the game after going on a 12-0 run to take a 53-42 lead with 13:22 left in the game.
If this weren't UCLA's season-opener, perhaps a November game against the Lions could be overlooked, but UCLA fans that made the dreaded drive to USC’s campus to watch their team play expected more from a team ranked in the preseason for the first time since 2008.
Instead they got the same old team they’ve come to expect the past couple of seasons, which starts out slow and flames out late.
UCLA was primarily hurt by the Loyola Marymount tandem of Ashley Hamilton, who scored 23 points, and Anthony Ireland, who added 21 points. The Bruins consistently got beat by dribble penetration and The Lions kicking back out after drawing double teams, which accounted for the Lions being wide open outside and hitting 10 of 15 three-pointers.
The Bruins also attempted 15 three-pointers but hit just two and took one ill-advised shot after another and never was able to get good ball movement. The biggest reason for this fell on senior guard Lazeric Jones, who averaged a team-best 3.6 assists last season. On Friday night, he made just 1-of-11 shots for 3 points and committed 3 turnovers. Sophomore center Joshua Smith finished with just 5 points on 2-of-4 shooting after getting in early foul trouble.
Perhaps UCLA will improve in the shooting department when they get senior guard Jerime Anderson back, after he served his one-game suspension after he was arrested in July for allegedly stealing a computer, but even Howland admitted his presence would not have changed the outcome.
“We had a lot of mental breakdowns defensively and offensively we took a number of shots that were not great shots in key times of the game,” Howland said. “Josh never really got in sync and was only in for six minutes in the first half with the two fouls. They really did a good job on him and caused us problems with their help defense.”
The game’s only highlight for UCLA was the much-anticipated debut of David and Travis Wear, who had to sit out last season after transferring from North Carolina. The 6-10 twin forwards combined for 24 points and 13 rebounds. The only other bright spot was Reeves Nelson, who added 13 points and 8 rebounds. Everyone else in UCLA’s locker room wishes their season opener was actually next week against Middle Tennessee State.
“The locker room reaction isn’t really angry, maybe stunned is more appropriate,” Travis Wear said. “Anyone on our schedule can beat us if we don’t play 100 percent.”
Loyola Marymount wasn’t even playing at 100 percent for the game. The Lions’ best player, Drew Viney, who led the team with averages of 17.2 points and 6.6 rebounds last season, missed the game after undergoing surgery on his left foot.
“It’s a bad loss for us getting out of the gate,” Howland said. “We have a lot of work to do but I’ve been saying that. We have a long way to go.”
_______________
Loyola Marymount stuns UCLA in opener
Lions have more sense of purpose than 17th-ranked Bruins in 69-58 upset at the Sports Arena.
By Ben Bolch
The Los Angeles Times
11:35 PM PST, November 11, 2011
Loyola Marymount Coach Max Good recently joked that he had asked UCLA counterpart Ben Howland to send a second-level team to the opener to make it a fair fight.
It appeared as if Howland did.
The 17th-ranked Bruins seemed completely out of sorts during a 69-58 loss Friday night at the Sports Arena, their inside-out approach appearing more upside-down throughout a game in which they didn't have a coherent plan on offense and were equally bad on defense.
The Lions repeatedly beat UCLA off the dribble and played with more confidence and a greater sense of purpose throughout their first victory over the Bruins since 1941.
It was not the kind of debut UCLA was seeking in its season-long home while Pauley Pavilion undergoes renovations.
"The locker room reaction isn't really angry, but maybe stunned," UCLA sophomore forward Travis Wear said. "Anyone on our schedule can beat us if we don't play 100%."
UCLA junior forward Reeves Nelson was out of rhythm for long stretches and sophomore center Joshua Smith finished with five points and four rebounds in 16 utterly forgettable minutes.
But no Bruin struggled as mightily as senior point guard Lazeric Jones, who made only one of 11 shots and had three turnovers, equaling his assist total. Jones also failed to contain Loyola Marymount's Anthony Ireland, his quicker counterpart, who repeatedly made uncontested forays to the basket on the way to 21 points.
"I didn't feel any pressure at all," Ireland said. "As a matter of fact, since we are a small school, it actually pumped us up."
It might have been just the opposite for Jones, who was trying to impress former high school teammate Derrick Rose, the Chicago Bulls star who was in the crowd along with former UCLA standout point guards Russell Westbrook and Darren Collison.
The Lions used a 12-0 run to take control, and Bruins fans started leaving when Ashley Hamilton's three-pointer gave Loyola Marymount a 65-55 lead with 3 minutes 40 seconds left. Hamilton tied a career high with 23 points on eight-for-15 shooting, making two of his team's 10 three-pointers.
The Lions made history of sorts, ending UCLA's 36-game winning streak as the home team in the Sports Arena. Of course, it didn't mean all that much given that the Bruins hadn't logged a victory there since 1965.
The game had a subdued feeling from the opening tip. The crowd of 5,382 filled about half of the two lower bowls, and only a sprinkling of fans sat in the upper bowl. The student section appeared to be a few hundred strong.
Nelson, fresh off his appearance on the cover of Sports Illustrated, scored 13 points but was a non-factor in the first half and badly missed all three three-pointers he took. The Bruins also failed to consistently get the ball to Smith, whose two early fouls limited him to six minutes in the first half.
UCLA was playing without backup point guard Jerime Anderson, who was completing his two-game suspension in connection with the theft of a laptop computer. The Bruins made two of 15 three-pointers.
The media's preseason pick to win the Pac-12 Conference might have trouble finishing in the upper half of the West Coast Conference if this was any indication.
"It's definitely not how we wanted to start the season off," said small forward David Wear, who had 13 points in his UCLA debut, "but it is the first game and it's a long season. We're going to get back to practice and do whatever we can to get better."
__________________
UCLA BASKETBALL: Lions crash homewarming party for No. 17 Bruins, who fall
By Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer
Posted: 11/11/2011 10:58:06 PM PST
Updated: 11/11/2011 11:34:07 PM PST
It wasn't an aircraft carrier, and the president of the free world wasn't in the stands watching.
While the UCLA basketball home opener Friday at the Sports Arena against Loyola Marymount lacked the pizazz and pageantry of the North Carolina-Michigan State match up on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson in Coronado it certainly didn't lack for nostalgia.
On top of the drama, the No. 17 Bruins could have done without in a 69-58 loss to the Lions.
Drama, as in their LMU neighbors giving them big-time problems from the get-go, never once backing down and pretty much controlling the tempo and game throughout.
As in the Lions' Ashley Hamilton torching the Bruins for 23 points and Anthony Ireland adding 21.
And their fans chanting "This is our house" by the end of the game.
"We really had no pressure tonight. We just wanted to play our game," Hamilton said.
"They drove us all night," UCLA coach Ben Howland said. "They were great."
As in UCLA forward Reeves Nelson playing on a sprained left ankle, and looking a bit out of sorts while scoring 13 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
As in UCLA sophomore center Joshua Smith never getting untracked, despite owning a huge height and girth advantage over the Lions.
Smith had five points and four rebounds. But he took just four shots in 16 minutes against a smothering Lions' defense that utilized a variety of different looks against him.
"He never got in sync," Howland said.
And finally, as in the Bruins taking poor shots offensively and making too many mental errors defensively.
LMU shot 66.7 percent on 3-pointers, making 10 of 15, and burned the Bruins time and again on dribble drives.
The Bruins took 15 3-pointers and made just two of them. They shot just 40.7 percent from the field overall.
"We took some ill-advised shots when we probably should have held it," UCLA forward Travis Wear said.
All in all, it was a dreadful start to the season for the Bruins but a memorable one for the Lions, who now have three wins against UCLA in 18 meetings.
"Definitely not the way we wanted to get started," said UCLA forward David Wear, Travis' twin brother.
Wear added 13 points to join Nelson for the team lead, while Travis added 11 points and eight rebounds.
The Wears, who transferred to UCLA from North Carolina in the spring of 2010 and sat out all of last season per NCAA rules, enjoyed productive debuts while flashing the skills that made them such high recruits out of Mater Dei High.
If you're wondering why the Bruins were at the Sports Arena to begin with, keep in mind they will play 18 games there this year and four at the Honda Center in Anaheim while Pauley Pavilion gets its long-awaited facelift.
The new Pauley is scheduled to open next season, but for now UCLA will play a little back to the future while playing the majority of its games at its former home next door to the Coliseum - and adjacent to USC.
UCLA played six years at the Sports Arena (1959-65) and compiled a 67-14 record, finishing off their stay riding a 27-game winning streak and consecutive NCAA championships - the Bruins' first two titles under John Wooden.
By the 1965-66 season they moved onto Pauley Pavilion, although they returned to the Sports Arena periodically during the years USC called it home.
Still, considering it had been so long since playing there as a home team, it took a little while for the Bruins to get a feel for their new digs.
The unfamiliarity, combined with a scrappy LMU team hoping to completely ruin UCLA'S home opener, made what seemed like a sure blowout a competitive game.
In fact, the Lions opened a 53-42 lead with 12:01 remaining on a pair of free throws by Hamilton.
The Bruins went on an 8-2 run from there, capped off by a layup from Reeves Nelson. To draw within 55-50 with 7:35 to play, and all of a sudden they were right back in it.
Briefly, anyway.
C.J. Blackwell answered with a 3-pointer and the Lions were back up 58-50, and three minutes later Hamilton sank a 3-pointer to put LMU ahead 65-55 with 3:40 remaining, and never relinquished control.
"We have a lot of work to do," Howland said.
Friday, November 11, 2011
UCLA preview: Smith is team's focal point
By ADAM MAYA / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: Nov. 10, 2011 Updated: 4:40 p.m.
LOS ANGELES – There was a moment during UCLA's exhibition this past Sunday against Division II Cal State San Bernardino in which forward Reeves Nelson finally screamed what everyone in the arena was thinking.
"Get the ball to Josh!"
That would be Joshua Smith, the 6-10, 300-plus-pound center who some consider the best NBA prospect in the Pac-12. Like several of his UCLA brethren before him, the sophomore might jettison the college game early, even as soon as next year.
For now, he is the Bruins' most important player. Smith might not grace the cover of Sports Illustrated (Nelson is featured on the front of this week's issue), he might not even start full-time, but Coach Howland wants him to be the focal point of the Bruins' offense this season.
And, heading into Friday's season opener against Loyola Marymount, the entire UCLA locker room seems to be on board.
"I was screaming from the bench," point guard Lazeric Jones said when asked about Nelson's gesture. "You know if you get the ball to Josh, something good's going to happen. Why not keep feeding the whale?"
Guard Tyler Lamb added: "Everyone on the team believes that. Josh is dominant. Why not give him the ball every time? Start the offense through him. As big as we are, it wouldn't make sense for us not to go inside."
This was hardly the case last season, with veterans Tyler Honeycutt and Malcolm Lee manning the perimeter and vying for control. Smith was the team's fourth-leading scorer, averaging 10.9 points a game as a freshman while playing just 21.9 minutes because of constant foul trouble.
The Bruins went 23-11 and won a game in the NCAA Tournament, but there's a sentiment around Westwood that they could have done more. Ultimately, one ball simply wasn't enough for Honeycutt, Lee, Nelson and Smith, the foursome never quite figuring out how to play with each other.
Losing Honeycutt and Lee to the NBA eases much of that confusion.
"We know where our strengths are," Jones said. "We have a good group of guys who know that if we do the right things and play to our roles we can do something really special. Malcolm and Tyler are really great players. They deserve to have the ball also.
"But with Josh, it's inevitable; you have to get him the ball."
It doesn't figure to be an issue given how UCLA is currently constructed. Jones is a pass-first point guard, Lamb is a defensive minded wing, and Nelson is a high-energy player content with playing off the ball. That leaves Smith as the first and last option in the Bruins' rugged, motion offense.
"None of us are selfish," Nelson said. "No question, we need Josh to be more selfish."
Smith said Howland wants him to play about 28-30 minutes a game. He played 27 against in the exhibition while continuing last year's trend of starting the game on the bench.
Howland wants to make sure Smith avoids early foul trouble and is on the floor in crunch time. Helping his case for the latter is an improved touch from the foul line. Smith made 14 of 18 free throws against CSSB. He made just 61.3 percent last tear.
"He's going to get to the foul line a lot," Howland said. "He's just a load to handle. His free-throw shot is much improved from where it was a year ago at that time, really nice compact stroke. Anything above 70 percent is great for him."
With the praise comes critique. Howland hasn't been shy about expressing his displeasure with Smith's conditioning, recently noting he isn't where he was at the end of last season. He also he wants Smith to be more aggressive with the ball. Smith has the tendency to dribble in the paint, allowing defenses to bring help and keep him from finishing potential three-point plays.
UCLA's ninth-year coach, who has tutored the likes of NBA veterans Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Darren Collison, Jrue Holiday, Jordan Farmar and Aaron Afflalo, is admittedly hard on his latest star pupil. He said he came away from a recent scrimmage dissatisfied with Smith, then gave it a second thought and remembered he'd been by far the best player on the court.
"I just want him to reach his full potential," Howland said. "The way he is right now, he's going to be is a dominating player. But the way he can be potentially is really special. That's what I want from him."
So do his teammates.
2011-2012 preview: UCLA at a glance
2011-2012 preview: UCLA at a glance
BY ADAM MAYA / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: Nov. 10, 2011 Updated: 4:38 p.m.
Taking a look at the upcoming men's basketball season for the UCLA Bruins.
Coach: Ben Howland (189-83, ninth season); Last postseason appearance: 2011
Upside: UCLA has the best frontcourt in the Pac-12 and possibly one of the best in the nation, led by center Joshua Smith and all-conference forward Reeves Nelson. Smith might double his freshman scoring output (10.9) and figures to improve his rebounding (6.3). Nelson should also see a scoring hike after leading the Bruins last year (13.9) and is already one of the best rebounders in the conference. North Carolina transfers David and Travis Wear and center Anthony Stover are all 6-10, giving the Bruins an abundance of bigs. Nelson and the Wears have good shooting range for their size. UCLA also returns experienced guards Lazeric Jones, Jerime Anderson and Tyler Lamb. Howland, who always preaches defense, rebounding and toughness, should get it from this group.
Concerns: Scoring is a bit of a question mark, especially on the perimeter. None of the guards have been consistent shooters. While the Bruins are big, they also figure to be slow. Howland isn't budging from playing man defense even though he's said the players have had issues in the preseason with staying in front of their man. UCLA lost two All-Pac-10 first team members (and second-round NBA draft picks) in Malcolm Lee and Tyler Honeycutt. They were the team's two best defensive players last year and, behind Nelson the next best offensive players. Are newcomers Norman Powell and De'End Parker ready to contribute?
Outlook: UCLA was picked to win the conference and should live up to those expectations as the Pac-12 figures to be its weakest in years. There's really no reason why UCLA can't go 15-3 in the conference. How deep a run the Bruins make in the NCAA Tournament will likely depend on how much they get from their backcourt. Smith is primed for a big season and might be gone after it. Nelson flirted with the idea last year and will be motivated to improve his draft stock. The Wears know they have a lot to improve after a forgettable season in Chapel Hill. It remains to be seen whether playing the majority of their home game sat the L.A. Sports Arena will be a distraction or unifying force. Even so, this is Howland's most talented group since the 2007-08 Kevin Love-Russell Westbrook team. It might also be the first since that one to win at least two games in the tournament.
BY ADAM MAYA / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: Nov. 10, 2011 Updated: 4:38 p.m.
Taking a look at the upcoming men's basketball season for the UCLA Bruins.
Coach: Ben Howland (189-83, ninth season); Last postseason appearance: 2011
Upside: UCLA has the best frontcourt in the Pac-12 and possibly one of the best in the nation, led by center Joshua Smith and all-conference forward Reeves Nelson. Smith might double his freshman scoring output (10.9) and figures to improve his rebounding (6.3). Nelson should also see a scoring hike after leading the Bruins last year (13.9) and is already one of the best rebounders in the conference. North Carolina transfers David and Travis Wear and center Anthony Stover are all 6-10, giving the Bruins an abundance of bigs. Nelson and the Wears have good shooting range for their size. UCLA also returns experienced guards Lazeric Jones, Jerime Anderson and Tyler Lamb. Howland, who always preaches defense, rebounding and toughness, should get it from this group.
Concerns: Scoring is a bit of a question mark, especially on the perimeter. None of the guards have been consistent shooters. While the Bruins are big, they also figure to be slow. Howland isn't budging from playing man defense even though he's said the players have had issues in the preseason with staying in front of their man. UCLA lost two All-Pac-10 first team members (and second-round NBA draft picks) in Malcolm Lee and Tyler Honeycutt. They were the team's two best defensive players last year and, behind Nelson the next best offensive players. Are newcomers Norman Powell and De'End Parker ready to contribute?
Outlook: UCLA was picked to win the conference and should live up to those expectations as the Pac-12 figures to be its weakest in years. There's really no reason why UCLA can't go 15-3 in the conference. How deep a run the Bruins make in the NCAA Tournament will likely depend on how much they get from their backcourt. Smith is primed for a big season and might be gone after it. Nelson flirted with the idea last year and will be motivated to improve his draft stock. The Wears know they have a lot to improve after a forgettable season in Chapel Hill. It remains to be seen whether playing the majority of their home game sat the L.A. Sports Arena will be a distraction or unifying force. Even so, this is Howland's most talented group since the 2007-08 Kevin Love-Russell Westbrook team. It might also be the first since that one to win at least two games in the tournament.
UCLA's Joshua Smith probably will start games on the bench
Ben Howland plans to have the center go into games after referees have set the tone in the first few minutes to keep him from picking up early fouls.
By Ben Bolch
The Los Angeles Times
8:36 PM PST, November 8, 2011
One of the most dominant big men in college basketball will probably start games taking up room on the bench instead of underneath the basket.
UCLA Coach Ben Howland said Tuesday that he would probably bring center Joshua Smith into games after a few minutes to avoid picking up fouls at a time when referees like to set the tone, similar to how the coach utilized Smith for much of last season.
The arrangement proved effective Sunday, when the 6-foot-10, 315-pound sophomore entered an exhibition game against Cal State San Bernardino with 3 minutes 17 seconds having elapsed in the first half and proceeded to score 26 points in 27 minutes.
"Josh is fine with it," Howland said. "He's going to play his minutes."
Smith, who did not make himself available to the media Tuesday, started 13 of UCLA's first 15 games last season before coming off the bench for the next 16 games. He was back in the starting lineup during the Bruins' two NCAA tournament games.
Travis Wear or Anthony Stover figures to start in games when Smith comes off the bench. Wear started in the exhibition and scored 10 points in 15 minutes.
Howland said he expected to use the same starting lineup he did in the exhibition game when the Bruins open their season against Loyola Marymount on Friday at the Sports Arena, but left himself an out.
"It's always subject to change," he said.
Recruiting update
William "Shaq" Goodwin announced via Twitter that he had committed to Memphis, spurning UCLA only two days after the two-sport standout concluded his official visit to Westwood.
Goodwin, a 6-foot-8, 235-pound power forward and tight end from Decatur (Ga.) Southwest DeKalb High, had told The Times on Sunday that he would not make his college choice until the spring signing period.
UCLA's early signing class is expected to include highly touted swingman Kyle Anderson and shooting guard Jordan Adams, who could sign letters of intent as soon as Wednesday. The Bruins are also pursuing coveted center Tony Parker and small forward Shabazz Muhammad, who are expected to announce their college decisions in the spring.
UCLA was hoping to tap two inside connections to Goodwin: Assistant Korey McCray was his club team coach and Adams was a former club teammate. Goodwin said Sunday that McCray's presence was "not a big factor" in his decision.
No. 17/20 UCLA Opens 93rd Season With Loyola Marymount
The Bruins lead the all-time series with LMU 15-2 and have won the last 12 meetings.
The Official UCLA Men's Basketball website
Nov. 10, 2011
LOS ANGELES -
GAMEDAY CENTRAL
DATE: Nov. 11, 2011
SITE: Los Angeles Sports Arena (15,000)
TIP-OFF: 7:36 p.m. (PT)
TV: Fox Sports West
TALENT: Joel Meyers (play-by-play), Don MacLean (analyst) and Courtney Jones (analyst)
RADIO (UCLA Sports Network from IMG College): AM 570 KLAC
SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO: 138
TALENT: Chris Roberts (play-by-play) and Tracy Murray (analyst)
SERIES: UCLA leads 15-2
IN THE POLLS
UCLA is ranked 17th in the AP Top 25 and 20th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll. This marks the first time since the end of the 2008-09 season that the UCLA Bruins are nationally ranked. Loyola Marymount is unranked in both polls.
SERIES VS. LOYOLA MARYMOUNT
This is the 18th meeting between UCLA and the Loyola Marymount Lions with the Bruins leading the series 15-2 (.882). The Bruins have won the last 12 meetings and haven't lost to LMU since dropping a 40-34 decision at home during the 1941-42 season. UCLA is 14-2 against LMU at home, which includes an 8-2 record at home(s) away from Pauley Pavilion. The last time these two teams met, then-14th-ranked UCLA posted a 75-44 win over LMU (Dec. 17, 2008) in Pauley Pavilion. Michael Roll scored 12 points, hitting four of UCLA's season-high 11 3-pointers. Darren Collison added 11 points for the Bruins. LaRon Armstead scored a career-high 18 points for the Lions (0-11). Loyola Marymount trailed by 15 points at halftime before things got away from the Lions. UCLA opened the second half on a 20-8 run to extend the Bruins' lead to 59-32. The Lions had just five field goals in the second half. UCLA dominated the boards 49-35. UCLA Head Coach Ben Howland is 3-1 all-time against Loyola Marymount (2-0 since arriving at UCLA).
UCLA IN SEASON OPENERS
UCLA is entering its 93rd season and is 72-20 (.783) in season openers and 58-8 (.879) in home openers (since 1945). UCLA is 7-1 (.875) in home and season openers under head coach Ben Howland. Last year, the Bruins posted an 83-50 blowout win over Cal State Northridge (Nov. 12) in Pauley Pavilion.
CHARTING COACH HOWLAND
Ben Howland earned his 300th victory of his career with the 72-54 win over DePaul in the 15th Annual John R. Wooden Classic (Dec. 13, 2008). He is currently 357-182 (.662), which ranks 33rd on the winningest active coaches list by percentage and 50th on the active list by victories. Howland's first career victory was his first game at Northern Arizona in 1994, a 71-69 victory over New Mexico Highlands. His 100th career victory came in his second season at Pittsburgh in the 77-65 win at home over Seton Hall (Jan. 13, 2001). His 200th win came in his third season at UCLA with the 56-37 home win over Delaware State (Nov. 19, 2005). Howland is 19-9 (.679) in the NCAA Tournament (15-6 (.714) at UCLA).
BRUINS' INJURY REPORT
Junior forward Reeves Nelson has a left ankle injury and is listed as day-to-day. He missed practice on Nov. 9, but his X-Rays were negative. He is listed as probable for the season-opener against Loyola Marymount (Nov. 11). Sophomore center Anthony Stover sublexed his left shoulder on Oct. 26 and hasn't returned to practice since. He will not play in the LMU contest.
Monday, November 7, 2011
UCLA basketball's interior duo designs exhibition game victory
UCLA basketball's interior duo designs exhibition game victory
Joshua Smith and Reeves Nelson help Bruins overcome a mostly shaky performance and beat Cal State San Bernardino, 80-72. Smith gets 26 points and seven rebounds; Nelson has 16 points, 10 rebounds.
By Ben Bolch
The Los Angeles Times
7:45 PM PST, November 6, 2011
There was a roll call, a familiar voice over the public address system and even the fan with blue hair heckling opponents when they shot free throws.
Good thing UCLA also remembered to pack Joshua Smith and Reeves Nelson for the start of its season-long show.
The interior duo helped the Bruins overcome a mostly ragged performance during an 80-72 exhibition victory over Cal State San Bernardino on Sunday at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario.
Smith's 26 points and seven rebounds were complemented by Nelson's 16 points, 10 rebounds and one commandment to his teammates.
"Get the ball to Josh!" Nelson yelled while coming out of the game during a substitution.
The Bruins complied, particularly during a stretch with about six minutes left in which guards Tyler Lamb and Lazeric Jones found the sophomore center underneath the basket on back-to-back possessions to sustain a 9-0 run that wiped out a two-point deficit.
"All the guys get it," UCLA Coach Ben Howland said. "Getting the ball to Josh is going to get a lot of good things for us."
Smith made six of 12 shots and 14 of 18 free throws, the latter statistic particularly encouraging for a player who figures to spend a lot of time at the foul line in coming months. Howland said Smith had made 25 of 32 free throws, including at a recent closed scrimmage.
There were also a handful of less pleasing developments for UCLA. The Bruins struggled with perimeter defense and rushed shots against the Division II Coyotes, who had a large and vocal contingent among the crowd of 6,259.
"It was kind of an away game, something we'll get used to," Nelson said.
UCLA backup point guard Jerime Anderson sat out the game while starting his two-game suspension in connection with the theft of a laptop computer. He will also miss the Bruins' opener against Loyola Marymount on Friday at the Sports Arena.
____________
UCLA struggles but wins exhibition basketball opener
By JANIS CARR / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Published: Nov. 6, 2011 Updated: 6:46 p.m.
ONTARIO – Turnovers and fouls by Cal State San Bernardino down the stretch Sunday kept No. 17 UCLA from what could have been an embarrassing misstep.
The Bruins blew an 11-point second-half lead but managed to hold off their Division II opponent for an 80-72 season-opening exhibition victory in front of 6,259 at Citizens Business Bank Arena.
"San Bernardino really was a good test for us today for an exhibition game," UCLA coach Ben Howland said.
"When you look at the first half, our field goal percentage was pretty good (40.7) ... but in the second half, they shot better (52 percent).
The Coyotes have not beaten a Division I team in three tries and UCLA did not become the first. But the Bruins came close.
UCLA, behind the inside play of Joshua Smith and Reeves Nelson, built what appeared to be a comfortable 56-45 lead midway through the second half.
Usually that would be enough against a lower-level team such as the Coyotes, 17-10 last season.
But San Bernardino didn't back down.
Coyotes senior D.J. Shumpert buried a 3-pointer then added two free throws to jump start a 12-0 run that put them ahead, 57-56, with 8:23 to play.
"We gave them too many open looks," Howland said.
"But it was good to see our guys fight back. We did a good job getting the ball to Josh inside. He was very effective as he was in our first scrimmage."
The Bruins got back into the game by repeatedly pounding the ball into Smith (26 points, seven rebounds) and Nelson (16 points, 10 rebounds) combined with a series of miscues by the Coyotes.
MISSING FROM ACTION
Senior point guard Jerime Anderson sat out the exhibition as part of his suspension because of his arrest for stealing a laptop computer.
He will miss the Bruins' regular-season opener Friday against Loyola Marymount.
"Not having Jerime hurt us by not having a second point guard," Howland said. "But I thought Tyler Lamb did a good job when he had to take over there."
Lamb, starting at point guard, had five points, two steals and one assist.
FIRST, LAST VISIT
The Bruins were making their first visit to Citizens Business Bank Arena and Howland was impressed, not only with the facility but with the crowd.
"I was pleased today considering it was raining that we had 6,200 people; that's a nice little exhibition game out here," he said. "Maybe we'll do this again in the future, who knows."
Howland then paused briefly and added, "Probably not because we'll have a new facility... I don't think (athletic director) Dan Guerrero, thinking about it now, will sign off on it."
____________
BASKETBALL: Smith, UCLA hold off CS San Bernardino
BY DAVID LASSEN
STAFF WRITER
dlassen@pe.com
Published: 06 November 2011 09:43 PM
ONTARIO — The big school didn’t necessarily get to Cal State San Bernardino. The big man did.
UCLA center Josh Smith — all 6-foot-10, 305 pounds of him — proved to be the roadblock the Coyotes couldn’t pass, helping the Bruins outlast their Division II opponent 80-72 in Sunday’s exhibition, a UCLA “home” game at Citizens Business Bank Arena.
UCLA’s Inland visit, kicking off a season of temporary home courts while Pauley Pavilion is remodeled, drew 6,259, and illustrated that home games at the Honda Center and L.A. Sports Arena may not be quite as hospitable as their on-campus facility. A large Cal State contingent at one end of the upper deck made for a relatively neutral atmosphere.
“I was excited they had a great crowd,” said UCLA coach Ben Howland. “That’s what we were looking to do with this game. … It’s great for the Inland Empire fans of UCLA and of Cal State San Bernardino.”
Cal State coach Jeff Oliver called the atmosphere “awesome.”
“I thought it was kind of a dueling crowd,” he said. “They’d get up, and their crowd would go. And when we got in there close and got up, our crowd woke up.”
The Coyotes gave those fans a reason to be engaged, leading 60-58 after a Johnny Bell three-pointer with 7:33 remaining that capped a 12-0 run.
But UCLA responded with a 12-1 burst, going back in front for good on a three-pointer by Reeves Nelson.
Smith, though, ended up doing most of the damage, finishing with 26 points — including 14-of-18 shooting at the foul line — to go with seven rebounds and three blocked shots.
“It’s like a big old wall you can’t move,” said Theron Laudermill, who led the Coyotes with 16 points. “You just try to get around it and just can’t get around it. That’s a big man.
“You try and disengage … but he takes up so much of the paint that it’s tough.”
Howland said the Bruins understand Smith needed to be a go-to player, and not just on Sunday.
“All the guys get it — get the ball to Josh,” Howland said. “He’s going to do a lot of good things for us.”
With Reeves adding 16 points and 10 rebounds, UCLA finished with a 40-30 rebounding edge, and ended up getting 61 of its 80 points from its four frontcourt players. That included 10 from Travis Wear and nine from David Wear, making their UCLA debuts after transferring from North Carolina.
“We have the advantage — we need to get it in to Reeves, to Josh, to Travis, to Dave,” Howland said. “We’ve got to take advantage of the obvious strength we have inside by getting it in.”
That was certainly true against the Coyotes, a good-sized them themselves but not on the order of the Bruins.
“We knew they would be a load on the glass,” Coyotes coach Jeff Oliver said, “and their ability to get to the free-throw line hurt us, too.”
UCLA was 33 of 41 at the line; Cal State, called for 28 fouls to UCLA’s 18, was 15 of 21 at the stripe.
Still, the Coyotes not only had that late lead, but were also still in a two-possession game at 76-70 after a Laudermill three-pointer with 1:21 to play.
“We came with the attitude that we can deal with anybody,” said D.J. Shumpert, who had 14 points and a team-leading seven rebounds. “Whether it’s UCLA or Westmont” — the team the Coyotes face Friday in their regular-season opener — “it doesn’t matter.
“So it was never a nervous thing. It was just mental stuff, stuff we have to work on in practice.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)