No. 12 UCLA improves effort in 74-63 win over Pepperdine
UCLA center Xavier Booker had 15 points to go with five blocks and wing Eric Dailey Jr. added 10 points in his season debut Friday, leading the 12th-ranked Bruins to a 74-63 nonconference victory over Pepperdine at Pauley Pavilion.
UCLA (2-0) defended the paint better and disrupted things defensively after struggling in both areas Monday in the season opener. The Bruins owned a 30-22 advantage in the paint and limited the Waves to 11 assists on 21 made baskets.
In the season opener, the Bruins allowed 38 points in the paint, equaling their own total, and 22 assists on 29 made baskets against Eastern Washington.
In all, four UCLA players scored in double figures including point guard Donovan Dent (12 points) and guard Skyy Clark (11 points).
Pepperdine (1-1) shot just 34.4% (21 of 61) from the field and was paced by 18 points off the bench from guard Aaron Clark. However, he was an inefficient 5 of 13 from the field.
The Bruins, who led by as many as 19, shot 14 of 25 in the second half to finish at 48.1% (25 of 52) for the game.
UCLA will next host West Georgia on Monday night before its first true test of the season Friday against rival and No. 13 Arizona in Inglewood. The Wildcats will surely shoot up the rankings after picking up a top-15 victory on a neutral floor against defending champion and No. 3 Florida, 93-87, to open the season in Las Vegas.
Postgame press conference
Bruins head coach Mick Cronin, Booker and Dailey addressed the media after the game:
Turning point of the game
Dailey had a strong opening seven minutes, checking out for the first time after a steal and layup through contact as part of a traditional three-point play to give the Bruins a 16-15 lead.
It was among the highlights in a 15-0 run that lasted just short of five minutes before Waves wing Javon Cooley made a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to 26-17.
UCLA continued to hold Pepperdine without a made field goal for what amounted to an eight-minute stretch that spanned nine consecutive missed shots.
The Bruins led 37-28 at halftime.
UCLA standout on offense: G/F Eric Dailey Jr.
Dailey, who missed the season opener while working his way back from a knee injury, wasted no time being a factor. He made his first shot, a 3-pointer, and assisted on a Clark 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions.
Dailey finished 3 of 4 from the field, with a pair of made 3-pointers, and added a pair of assists in his 25 minutes.
UCLA standout on defense: C Xavier Booker
The interior defense looked considerably better thanks for the Michigan State transfer.
In addition to his rim protection, Booker had five rebounds against a West Coast Conference foe with solid size, and the Waves were 9 of 19 on dunks and layups combined.
Why UCLA won
The first-half numbers tell the story as far as how quickly the Bruins got Cronin’s message after the opener.
After allowing Eastern Washington to shoot 50% over the first 20 minutes in the opener, UCLA clamped down in stretches and harassed Pepperdine into a 9-of-28 effort by the break.
Effort was far from an issue on this evening, as the Bruins showed active hands to disrupt the Waves’ offense.
UCLA had just 28 deflections against Eastern Washington. Against Pepperdine, it increased by 10 and Booker led all Bruins with 12.
