UCLA rejects Richmond with 71-63 win
Late in the second half of UCLA's last non-conference tune-up on Friday night, a man dropped to his knee and proposed to his girlfriend at the Los Angeles Sports Arena.
She said no.
It was only the second biggest rejection of the evening.
UCLA sophomore forward Travis Wear blocked a Kendell Anthony attempt with a six-point lead and 1 minute, 16 seconds left in the game immediately after scoring on a crucial rebound-and-putback, and the Bruins preserved their fifth straight win with a 71-63 victory over Richmond.
"That was a very good win for us," UCLA head coach Ben Howland said. "A very important win. That's a hard team to play against - their style of play and their strategies, you don't see that often. That really caused us problems early."
Richmond made 6-of-10 shots to start the game as its Princeton offense caused fits against UCLA's man-to-man defense before the Bruins switched to a zone, and the Spiders went ice cold, making just one of their next 14 shots. UCLA trailed 14-5 and 21-12 but a late-first-half spurt allowed the Bruins to tie it at 24 at the half.
Howland, who is typically hesitant to play zone, credited the switch for the victory.
"The zone really helped us tonight," Howland said. "If we hadn't have gone to zone, we wouldn't have won the game. It's been good for us. There's going to be times when we have to go to it. I'd rather play man - but I knew going into this game that they're so hard to guard. They're so precise."
The Bruins were the sharpshooters in the second half, though.
UCLA made 16-of-26 shots (61.5 percent) in the second half, starting off with a quick 7-0 run and kept the Spiders at arm's length for much of the half. Senior guard Jerime Anderson had 11 second-half points, including a quick five during the Bruins' early second-half spurt.
"We got a lot better shots," Anderson said. "We started getting to the rack a lot more. Our motion offense gave them problems with their matchup defense. We got a lot of good things inside."
The Bruins' better ball-movement resulted in a balanced offensive effort, as five players finished in double-figures, led by senior point guard Lazeric Jones' 16 points. UCLA's balance offset a big night from Richmond's Darien Brothers, who finished with 25 points and five 3-pointers.
"We knew they'd try to backdoor us, and I think it overextended us a little bit," sophomore Travis Wear said. "When we went to that zone, obviously they're not going to get those open doors because we're packing it in the paint. Fortunately we were able to cool them down a little bit."
Wear and his twin brother David, though, stayed hot.
The twins played their best cumulative effort against the Spiders, combining for 26 points on 12-of-22 shooting and totaling 11 rebounds.
"I was just trying to be active," Travis Wear said. "I think I was overthinking when I was in there in the beginning, but I was just trying to go to open spots."
The win, UCLA's fifth straight after a 2-5 start, gives the Bruins some momentum heading into Pac-12 Conference play. The team opens its conference schedule on Thursday at Stanford at 8 p.m.
"We were definitely in a tough spot," Anderson said of the 2-5 start. "It was an adverse situation for the whole team, with everything that happened. It was a difficult time for us. But that difficulty really helped us grow stronger as a team. We had to come together."
"We're really clicking out there."
Jon,
I know all 150 fans and both teams and coaches and trainers saw it, but do you have to let the greater LA area (and UCLA fans around the world) know about the most embarrassing moment in this guys life? No need to put it at the top of the story on the front page of the Sports section.
You do a great job and I love all your work, but you could have left this one out (or just on the twitter.)
No, I'm with Jon on this one... this is by the THE WORST place to propose. Wow. Dude blew it.
The guy was a douche for putting a girl who he CLEARLY didn't understand on the spot like that. He deserved what he got.
Gee...for having the balls to propose like that to me, in front of the WHOLE CIVILIZED WORLD, I'd have said 'Yes.' Girls can be SOOOOO cruel. I'm just glad my wife proposed to me and not the other way around.
It takes large balls to do that. It takes a small brain, too. Too freakin' funny.
Strong lead as always, Jon ...
Pete: Sorry she turned you down. Next time, maybe take her on a second, third -- or 22nd -- date, meet her family, BE SURE you are sober and THEN ask the ultimate question.
I used to think stadium proposals were cool. When I was eight.
Fortunately for him she said no. When he finally does get married, he won't have to embarrass his wife and himself by sharing that engagement story.
I feel very sorry for him. Whether it was for the better or the worse that she said no, it was very apparent that he was extremely distraught with her response. I had my binoculars focused on him and I could see his heart drop into his stomach as he realized she was rejecting him. His face then turned to anguish as he dropped his head into his hand and slumped forward.
For the people making fun of him, may the fates have something kinder in store for you.
My wife gladly said yes when i proposed to her thank you. I was just expressing some concern for the poor guy. I guess that is not acceptable in the anonymous internet commenting world
I don't get it. Howland wants to use the zone defense about as bad as this gal wants to be with this guy for the rest of her life.
Jon, why is Ben fighting using the zone defense which has turned the Bruins around this season. Why be so stubborn when you plainly see man defense has hurt your team so much?
two years ago we lose this game. two years ago we play man to the bloody end and we lose. howland is a stubborn man, it is at once a vice and a virtue. he's learning to deal with the shifting sands of the one and dones and the entourage in the ear and the occasional pouty baby but the critical factor is his willingness and ability to learn and to change a system that has worked for him for a very long time. kudos to the coach. two years ago we lose this game.
I always wondered what motivated guys to make a public spectacle out of what many consider to be a very private event. It's a very self-indulgent thing to do. THe draw back is if you're going to invite the whole workd into your personal life then it is what it is. Perhaps he will get to know the next girl better before proposing. It's apparent that they were not on the same page in their relationship.
guy proposed in a super public place. what jon posted is fair game.
I saw the so-called proposal, and it looked like a set-up to me. A totally staged rejection.