UCLA Belongs! The Bruins Demolish UAB To Get Back To The Sweet Sixteen!

UCLA IS HEADING TO THE SWEET SIXTEEN! The #11 UCLA Bruins defeated the #14 UAB Blazers 92-75 in a second-half rout in what was quite possibly their best team performance of the year. UCLA center Tony Parker was particularly effective as he finished with a game-high 28 points. For those that said UCLA does not belong, well, UCLA belongs.

UCLA faced a familiar foe in UAB. Though they beat the Blazers 88-76 back in November in the Battle 4 Atlantis (in the losers bracket), UAB was back then without the likes of their big man William Lee who is the team’s second leading scorer. He finished the game with 10. Although it was UAB’s leading scorer Robert Brown who was giving the Bruins fits early. He had 15 points off 6-for-7 shooting in the first half.

UCLA Bruins

Luckily, the Bruins had some production from one of their own as Tony Parker destroyed the Blazers down low all game long. By halftime, he lead all scores with 19 points.

UCLA seemed to know that UAB would clamp down on Bryce Alford who had 27 points and hit 9 three-pointers in their second round game against SMU. Though UAB did well defending Alford, they seem to have forgotten Parker who did whatever he wanted under the rim.

As for the rest of the team, they were playing very sound basketball despite 7 turnovers in the first half. Offensively, the Bruins shot 61.3%. UCLA lead at the break, 46-37.

The concern in the second half was if the Bruins could hold off or extend their lead over UAB. Two days ago, UCLA had a 10 point lead halfway through the second and saw it dwindle away with a 19-0 run my SMU. That could not happen here.

The Blazers did fight back and even got to within six points. Brown was still a factor for UAB as he finished with 25. Unfortunately it was not enough as he was he only one producing for the Blazers.

Mar 21, 2015; Louisville, KY, USA; UCLA Bruins forward Tony Parker (23) dunks the ball against the UAB Blazers during the first half in the third round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Unlike UCLA’s game against SMU, the Bruins managed to pull away with some of the best team play they have had all year. The Bruins did well distributing and finding the open man as every starter finished scoring in double digits. Tony Parker and Kevon Looney each got a double-double. UCLA also got some help from their bench as Thomas Welsh added 4 points, 7 rebounds and 1 block.

UCLA was on fire at the end of this game and won 92-75. Who ever said that they did not belong are eating some serious crow right now. With this win, UCLA heads to the Sweet Sixteen for the second consecutive year. They will play the winner of #7 Iowa and #2 Gonzaga next week in Houston, Texas.

Go Bruins!