Four of No. 12-ranked UCLA’s five starters scored in double-figures, and the Bruins held visiting Pepperdine to 34.4 percent field-goal shooting in a 74-63 win on Friday in Los Angeles.
Following its season-opening win over Eastern Washington on Monday, UCLA coach Mick Cronin lamented his team’s defensive effort in surrendering 74 points to the Eagles. The Bruins (2-0) responded aggressively in Friday’s first half, effectively contesting Pepperdine (1-1) both on the interior and from long range.
The Waves were held to 9-of-28 shooting from the floor through the first 20 minutes, including 3 of 15 from 3-point range.
UCLA took control over a stretch lasting 5:27, holding Pepperdine scoreless. The Bruins flipped a 15-11 deficit into a 26-15 lead and never trailed again.
UCLA extended the lead to as many as 18 points in a second half that opened with the Bruins holding Pepperdine to just eight points more than six minutes into the stanza.
After surrendering 38 points in the paint on Monday, UCLA limited Pepperdine to 22 on Friday. Xavier Booker keyed the Bruins interior defense with five blocked shots.
Booker also led UCLA’s balanced scoring effort with 15 points, and his five rebounds matched Jamar Brown’s team high.
Six Bruins scored at least nine points with Donovan Dent finishing with 12, Skyy Clark going for 11, and Eric Dailey Jr. adding 10. Booker and Dent each helped put the game away with eight points apiece after halftime.
Tyler Bilodeau and reserve Trent Perry each scored nine points, though both shot 0-of-4 from 3-point range.
UCLA went just 5-of-21 from beyond the arc as a team, but regrouped with a 20-of-31 shooting performance from inside the arc. The Bruins managed 30 points in the paint.
Pepperdine’s Javon Cooley scored 17 points and grabbed a game-high nine rebounds. Aaron Clark came off the bench to lead all scorers with 18 points. The rest of the Waves combined for just 28 points.
–Field Level Media
