Sloppy start stops UCLA against Cincinnati

UCLA Bruins’ head coach Steve Alford reacts during the second half against Cincinnati Bearcats at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017. Cincinnati Bearcats defeats UCLA Bruins with the score of 77 to 63. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Last weekend, it was the second-half turnovers. On Saturday, it was the first-half miscues that killed UCLA.

The Bruins (7-3) committed 15 turnovers in the first half against the No. 25 Bearcats, losing 77-63 in a nationally televised contest at Pauley Paviion that was one of UCLA’s last chances to get a marquee nonconference win.

“Obviously a really good basketball team, grown men,” head coach Steve Alford said of Cincinnati. “We’ve got some young guys that I think will really grow from this and learn from this. … If we could take back the second half of Michigan and the first half here against Cincinnati just in the area of turnovers, I think we’d be sitting in a different position.”

There are no take-backs though and the Bruins have only one more opportunity for a big win (Dec. 23 against Kentucky) before starting conference play.

Links to wrap up the game: