LOS ANGELES – UCLA (18-12, 10-7 Pac-12) closes its regular season against USC (11-18, 3-14) on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins’ game will be nationally televised on ESPN2. Wednesday’s game will mark the final regular-season contest for four UCLA seniors – Kory Alford, David Brown, Nick Kazemi and Norman Powell – who will be honored as part of “Senior Night” festivities prior to the game. UCLA has won eight of its last nine meetings against USC, including an 83-66 decision at Galen Center on Jan. 14 earlier this season.
GAME INFORMATION
Venue: Pauley Pavilion (13,800)
Date: Wednesday, March 4
Tipoff Time: 6:05 p.m. (PT)
Television: ESPN2
TV Talent: Dave Pasch (play-by-play), Bill Walton (analyst)
Radio: AM 570 (KLAC)
Radio Talent: Chris Roberts (play-by-play), Tracy Murray (analyst)
SIRIUS Satellite Radio: Channel 91
SIRIUS XM Radio: Channel 91
GETTING TO THE GAME
Tickets are available by
ordering online or calling the UCLA Central Ticket Office at 310-UCLA-WIN (825-2946). The Pauley Pavilion Box Office (north side) will open this Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. for the 6 p.m. game against USC. More information about directions to Pauley, parking and tickets can be found through our
Gameday Info website.
LISTEN LIVE
UCLA’s game this Wednesday against USC (6 p.m. PT) will be broadcast live on the UCLA Sports Network from IMG College on AM 570 (KLAC), the flagship home of UCLA Athletics. The pregame show kicks off at 5:30 p.m. (PT). Chris Roberts and former UCLA basketball standout Tracy Murray will have the call, live from Pauley Pavilion. Fans can also listen to the audio broadcast by using the TuneIn radio app (
click here).
ABOUT THE BRUINS
The Bruins have played six games against “top 15” ranked teams, the most of any Pac-12 school (AP poll) … UCLA is looking to go undefeated at home in Pac-12 games for the first time since 2006-07 (9-0) … after having lost five consecutive games midway through the season, UCLA won eight of its next 11 contests … per KenPom.com, UCLA has played the nation’s No. 22 most difficult schedule (highest of any Pac-12 team) … likewise, Kenpom.com estimates that UCLA has faced the No. 9 strongest opposing defense (average of opp. defenses) and has played the most challenging non-conference schedule of any Pac-12 program.
THE LAST TIME OUT
Most recently, UCLA earned a 72-67 win over Washington State in Pauley Pavilion on Sunday evening. Norman Powell scored a career-high 28 points, while Tony Parker registered his fifth double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds. UCLA overcame a six-point deficit early in the second half and outscored Washington State, 40-33, after halftime. Washington State’s Josh Hawkinson recorded his Pac-12-leading 17th double-double, recording 21 points and 14 rebounds. UCLA has now won 39 of its last 43 games against Washington State.
POWELL’S PRODUCTION
Norman Powell was named Pac-12 Player of the Week on Monday for the third time this season, marking the first time any UCLA player has been a three-time selection of that award since Kevin Love (during the 2007-08 season). Powell ranks sixth in the Pac-12 in scoring (16.1 ppg) and is fourth with 1.9 steals per game. He has scored in double figures in 25 of 30 games this season and has led UCLA in scoring in nine of the last 13 games. Powell, who played in his 135th career game on Sunday, has averaged 20.4 points and shot 56.2 percent in the last five games.
FRESHMAN STANDOUT
Kevon Looney has averaged 12.3 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, the third-highest rebounding average of any freshman, nationally (through March 1). Likewise, Looney has logged 13 double-doubles in 30 games, the highest double-double total of any freshman in the country. In comparison, UCLA’s Kyle Anderson had eight double-doubles as a freshman (2012-13) and 16 double-doubles last year. Looney has scored in double figures in 12 of the Bruins’ last 15 games and has registered double-doubles in six Pac-12 games during his freshman campaign.
POINTS AND ASSISTS
Bryce Alford ranks second on the team in scoring (15.2 ppg) and has dished a team-best 5.1 assists per game in 30 starts (fourth-highest assist average in the Pac-12). The 6-foot-3 guard from Albuquerque, N.M., has scored in double figures in 25 of 30 games. He is one of two Pac-12 players (along with Washington’s Nigel Williams-Goss) to rank among the top 10 in scoring and top five in assists per game. Alford ranks fourth in the Pac-12 in free throw percentage (84.7 pct, 105-for-124) and third in three-point field goals made per game (2.3).
CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Norman Powell has played in all 135 games for UCLA since the start of the 2011-12 season. Powell, who has started each of UCLA’s last 69 games, currently ranks fifth on UCLA’s all-time games played list, having moved past Mitchell Butler (131 games, 1990-93) on Feb. 14. Michael Roll ranks first on the list (147), followed by Darren Collison and Alfred Aboya (142). Powell’s career total of 148 steals ranks 10th on UCLA’s all-time steals list (ahead of Ed O’Bannon and Gerald Madkins, who each logged 146 career steals at UCLA).
THANK YOU, CHRIS
UCLA radio broadcaster Chris Roberts will call his final regular-season game in Pauley Pavilion on Wednesday. Roberts, who announced his impending retirement in May 2014, will be honored at halftime during UCLA’s game against USC. Currently in his 23rd season as the Bruins’ primary play-by-play broadcaster, Roberts is a two-time recipient of the Chick Hearn Award (best play-by-play voice, Southern California Sports Broadcasters). Roberts joined the broadcast team in 1992 after 10 seasons with Long Beach State and one with Cal State Fullerton.
