UCLA head coach Ben Howland regretted not getting freshman guard Tyler Lamb and redshirt freshman center Anthony Stover more minutes in the Bruins’ 72-61 win on Saturday night at Pauley Pavilion.
He might not get the chance to make up for it tonight.
Howland said the two freshmen came down with food poisoning on Saturday night and missed practice on Sunday, a light workout as UCLA prepared for UC Davis, with tipoff scheduled at Pauley Pavilion at 7:30 p.m.
“Tyler Lamb and Anthony Stover had some chili chicken cheese fries and had food poisoning; I won’t name the extablishment, but we would like to cut that establishment out during the season,” Howland said. “Tyler was throwing up during practice, throwing up in the hallway of his dorm room. It wan’t good.”
Lamb got just six minutes against the Mustangs on Saturday night as the Mater Dei product appeared flustered by Cal Poly’s zone defense, which essentially negated UCLA’s transition game.
Lamb missed his only shot attempt – he’s now shooting 35 percent from the field and averaging 3.5 points in 17.6 minutes – while committing two turnovers.
“There is no way to speed up the maturation process,” Howland said. “It’s just time and learning.”
Stover, meanwhile, only played two minutes as starting freshman center Joshua Smith thrived against a small Cal Poly front court. Smith had a career-high 19 points and added 12 rebounds, while Stover picked up two quick fouls in his brief appearance and headed back to the bench.
“I have to get Anthony more minutes,” Howland said. “Last night, we wanted to score against the zone, and the thing is, Josh had it going. He had another very good game, not unlike the one he had at Kansas.”
With only nine players on scholarship after freshman guard Matt Carlino’s announced transfer late last week, UCLA needs all the healthy bodies it can get. Howland said he was optimistic that Lamb and Stover could play against the Aggies but that he would learn more either before or after the team’s shoot-around today.
“I hope it’s a one-day deal,” Howland said. “We’re going to have a doctor look at them tomorrow before or after our shoot-around. We’re hoping they’ll be able to get some food in their bellies tonight.”
Bumps and Bruises
Howland said junior shooting guard Malcolm Lee felt little effect against Cal Poly fro separate injuries he’s suffered in the last two weeks, including patella tendonitis and a sprained ankle.
However, he added that Lee probably would be without a knee brace against the Aggies, after “fiddling with it a lot” against the Mustangs.