UCLA Overpowers Youngstown, 83-52

By KS Wong
Bruin Basketball Report

Box Score

Lorenzo Mata showed double-doubles aren't just for freshmen as the senior center scored 14 points and hauled down 14 rebounds to lead the Bruins to an 83-52 win over Youngstown in the first round of the CBE Classic.

UCLA had problems scoring over the extended 2-3 zone of Youngstown. The Bruins shot just 3-13 (23.1%) from beyond the arc. After stroking it against Portland State in the home opener, Josh Shipp was just 0-4 on three-pointers in this game although he finished with 11 points.

With the outside shots not dropping, UCLA went inside and dominated the paint. The Bruins outscored the Penguins in second-chance points 18-6 and outrebounding them 45-29. Kevin Love and Mata had 10 of the teams 12 offensive rebounds.

"Coach wants us to outrebound every team at least by 10," Love said.

On the competition the two Bruin big men have with each other in rebounding.

"We're (Mata and Love) battling against each other in practice every day," Love said.

Freshman Love just missed another double-double finishing with 21 points and 9 rebounds on 8-14 shooting. Youngstown had no answer for Love down low who used his wide body and good footwork to get good inside position. In addition, the freshman hit a three-pointer for good measure.

Russell Westbrook bounced back from a subpar game against Portland scoring 9 points and dishing out a game-high 9 assists. Although he committed 3 turnovers, Westbrook did a better job keeping the game under control although he still forced a couple tough offensive chances.

Sophomore Nikola Dragovic had a solid game on both ends of the court. He finished with 12 points and worked hard on the defensive end in 21 minutes of play. With Michael Roll out with a foot injury for a few more weeks, Dragovic is beginning to get comfortable in his role on the wing. He had a nice drive to the basket for a lay-in as the shot clock wound down during the second half.

UCLA started off the game somewhat sluggishly as the Penguins came out with more intensity and stayed with the Bruins in the opening minutes. But after a Ben Howland time-out, the defense kicked into gear and UCLA finally matched Youngstown's intensity.

The Bruins forced 23 Penguin turnovers, Shipp, Love, and Westbrook each had two steals. UCLA held Youngstown to just 39.2% shooting from the field.

In the first game of the evening, Cal State San Bernardino, a Division II school, upset Weber State, 71-59. Weber State reached the NCAA tournament last season.

As a result, UCLA faces the Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes in the second round of the CBE Classic on Tuesday night at 7:30PM in Pauley Pavilion.

BBR Notes: Former UCLA Coach Steve Lavin was at Pauley Pavilion working color commentary on the game for ESPN. The student section had face cut-outs of the former coach and displayed them proudly for the cameras and Lavin to enjoy.

(photo credit: AP/Gus Ruelas)