UCLA Needs Another Second Half Effort To Put Away A Smaller Opponent, Beat UC Riverside 77-66

For the second straight game, UCLA (8-2) was down at halftime. For the second straight game, they needed a second-half effort to put away a lesser opponent. For the second-straight time, it looks like things are getting worse, though the Bruins beat UC Riverside (5-4) 77-66 in a game that did not see a whole lot of effort until after the break.

Dec 10, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Norman Powell (4) shoots the ball against the UC Riverside Highlanders at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Now to be fair, Norman Powell, Tony Parker and Kevon Looney were the only Bruins that gave a full effort. Though as a team, lackluster was a mild way of putting it. There was no urgency whatsoever. Shot selection was bad, perimeter defense was bad and the general flow of the Bruin’s game was bad, at least in the first half.

UCR was on fire with their three point shooting, which helped them out to a 36-28 halftime lead. The Highlanders went 11-of-34 from behind the three-point line with Jaylen Bland, Steven Jones and Steven Thornton all leading the way with three apiece. Luckily the Bruins woke up in the second.

The Bruins were a bit revitalized after the break, especially Powell. After Looney made two free throws to start the scoring for UCLA, Powell added the next 7 which included a three-pointer and a massive dunk that woke up Pauley Pavilion. The Bruin’s comeback was on. Powell ended the night with a game-high 20 points.

Additionally, Looney got his seventh double-double of the season as he finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Parker also had a double-double with 16 points and 16 rebounds. One thing the Bruins did have in their advantage, was height and they used it.

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UCLA finally got out to a lead after the switch in momentum, but they never really pulled away. The Highlanders had given the Bruins every reason to take off, but UCLA did not capitalize. Halfway throughout he second, UCR’s starting forward Alex Larsson had fouled out. The Bruins had taken over dominating the glass, but they continued to lay off of their exterior defense as Riverside kept draining shots which kept them in the game.

Luckily, the rest of the Bruins came alive to help fend of the Highlander’s attack. Bryce Alford finished with 16 points and 8 assists as Isaac Hamilton recorded 11 points and 3 assists. The downside, Alford had three turnovers while Hamilton had 5.

It was a tough effort, but the Bruins hung on to win. Hopefully UCLA can find a way to start fast as it will kill them later in the season, starting Saturday when #9 Gonzaga visits Pauley Pavilion.