The Bruins extended their win streak to six with a victory over the University of Washington at Pauley Pavilion on Dec. 3. The game marked the UCLA men’s basketball team’s first appearance in the Big Ten, the conference they officially moved to just over four months ago. The Bruins proved that they do, in fact, belong with the big dogs, showing resilience and persistence on both sides of the ball in their victory over a tough competitor in the Huskies.
Oregon State transfer Tyler Bilodeau and Sophomore Sebastian Mack led the offense, logging 16 points each, a team-high for the night. Bilodeau provided in all facets of the game, adding nine rebounds, two assists and two steals while shooting 75% from the field.
Although Mack struggled shooting-wise, scoring on just 33% of attempts, his ability to get to the free throw line played crucial in the Bruins’ victory. Mack, who started nearly every game last season, has settled into a bench role, allowing him to improve his efficiency and provide the team with much-needed energy when the starters are tired.
The UCLA bench proved to be a key factor in the team’s victory Tuesday, outnumbering Washington’s 26 to 11. The scoring for the unit was led primarily by Mack, but their effort as a whole served as a large reason why the Bruins were able to hold on against the Huskies.
Senior Lazar Stefanovic scored five points and grabbed three rebounds, while Aday Mara added five rebounds and two blocks in just 14 minutes. The Spanish native had the crowd roaring with his early putback slam and another tough bucket later in the game.
Mara’s dominant rim protection in his limited time on the court was noticeable, reiterating a key theme highlighted by coach Mick Cronin, that the Bruins are extremely difficult to break on the defensive side of the ball. UCLA held their opponent, a team previously averaging nearly 73 points per game on the season, to just 58. Washington was hounded beyond the arc by aggressive perimeter defenders like Skyy Clark, who limited the Huskies to just 18.8% from the three-point range, a significant drop from their 31.6% average.
The Bruins initially struggled from distance, shooting a mere two of 11 from the three-point line in the first half. However, the team discovered new life from beyond the arc following halftime, sinking six shots from range on just nine attempts. This electric second-half performance may indicate that there is an end in sight for the team’s three-point woes, a trend dating back to last season.
UCLA hopes to continue its winning streak despite a daunting December schedule. The Bruins face two more challenging Big Ten opponents, Oregon, who eliminated them from the Pac-12 tournament last March, and Arizona. They then have to face North Carolina, a top twenty team, and Gonzaga, a top ten team, on Dec. 21 and 28, in what may be a very stressful holiday season.
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Featured Image Photographed by Mira Daya/BruinLife
