No. 22 UCLA Cruises Past Visiting Rider in Opener
Bruins Shake Off Slow Start, Win 86-51
Los Angeles, Calif. -
The No. 22 UCLA Bruins opened their season with a dominant 86-51 victory over the visiting Rider Broncs on Monday night at Pauley Pavilion.
The Bruins struggled out of the gate, falling behind 10-2 in the early going. However, UCLA found its footing and closed the half on a 22-6 run to take a 34-22 lead into the break.
UCLA continued to pour it on in the second half, shooting 60.7% from the field and holding Rider to just 28.6% shooting. The Bruins also won the rebounding battle 43-28 and forced 18 turnovers.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. led the way for UCLA with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Tyger Campbell added 15 points and five assists while David Singleton chipped in 11 points.
Rider was led by Mervin Jones, who finished with 14 points. Allen Powell added 11 points for the Broncs.
With the win, UCLA improves to 1-0 on the season. The Bruins will be back in action on Thursday night when they host the Pepperdine Waves.
What Went Right for UCLA
There were a number of factors that contributed to UCLA's victory over Rider.
- Defense: The Bruins held Rider to just 28.6% shooting from the field and forced 18 turnovers.
- Rebounding: UCLA outrebounded Rider 43-28, giving them a significant advantage in second-chance points.
- Bench play: The Bruins got a big lift from their bench, which outscored Rider's bench 25-10.
What Went Wrong for Rider
There were a few areas where Rider struggled in the loss to UCLA.
- Shooting: The Broncs shot just 28.6% from the field, including 2-of-19 from three-point range.
- Turnovers: Rider turned the ball over 18 times, leading to 22 points for UCLA.
- Rebounding: The Broncs were outrebounded by UCLA 43-28, giving the Bruins a significant advantage in second-chance points.
Conclusion
The No. 22 UCLA Bruins opened their season with a dominant 86-51 victory over the visiting Rider Broncs. The Bruins struggled out of the gate, but they found their footing and cruised to a victory. Rider struggled with shooting and turnovers, which allowed UCLA to pull away in the second half.
