UCLA Basketball: Bruins outrun the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners

The UCLA Basketball team had one of the toughest scoring halves this season but managed to edge out Bakersfield, 75-66, with another second half performance for the win, which seems to be their trademark this season.

It happened again. The UCLA basketball team was slow out of the starting gate (although this one was a bit more painful), but managed to get on track after the break to get the win. The UCLA Bruins (6-1) defeated Cal State Bakersfield (3-5), but not before the Roadrunners got a few gut punches in early.

UCLA Bruins 75 – Cal State Bakersfield 66

Eight minutes into the game, the Bruins had only scored seven total points. Seven. Total. Points. The Bruins only made two field goals out of nine attempts (22.2%) by then. For 7 minutes and 20 seconds, the Bruins did not score a single basket while the Roadrunners put up 16 points which were backed by some hot outside shooting.

For 13 minutes (out of 20 in the first half), Cal State Bakersfield, a Big West team that entered the game with a 3-4 record, held the lead against UCLA. It was interesting, for Bakersfield, to say the least. But the Bruins fought and were able to get back in the game, swapping baskets with the Roadrunners before halftime as UCLA was able to grab a 29-27 lead. Painful, yes. Hard to watch, definitely. The lowest amount of points scored in a half this season, you better believe it.

Thankfully, college basketball has two halves and it was in the second where the Bruins stepped it up and threw their weight around as they dropped in 46 points, the fifth most in a half this season.

Though most of UCLA’s production came after the break, it was enough to give the Bruins the win. Aaron Holiday seems to have found that fire that we saw when he came off the bench last season. with his second half theatrics. As the team’s leading scorer, he did not disappoint in this contest as he once again led all Bruins with 16 points on 7/13 shooting.

Thomas Welsh got his fifth double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds. The big man also had another 3-pointer (his fourth of the season) which came at a critical time in the first half which tied the game at 23 after Bakersfield lead for most of the half.

Next: The UCLA Basketball All-Time Team

It was not pretty, but it is a win. The Bruins have a few things to clean up, but they are figuring out how to get the job done. That is all that matters in the end.