Tag Archives: Brock Motum

UCLA at WSU: Halftime update

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The night couldn’t have started worse for No. 23 UCLA, which is lucky to be down just 35-24 to Washington State at halftime.

The Bruins opened the game 1 of 10 from the field while playing some porous defense against the conference’s worst team. WSU used a matchup zone to keep UCLA from getting its second field goal until almost 10 minutes had elapsed. Even without its No. 2 and No. 3 scorers — Mike Ladd (thumb knee) and DaVonte Lacy (knee) — the Cougars ran out a 25-4 lead with eight minutes to go. Continue reading “UCLA at WSU: Halftime update” »

UCLA at WSU: What to Watch

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UCLA (22-7, 12-4) at Washington State (11-18, 2-14)
Tipoff: 6:30 p.m., Beasley Coliseum
TV/Radio: Pac-12 Networks/AM 570

At a glance: A loss in Pullman would be inexcusable for a conference contender. Washington State hasn’t beaten UCLA in Pullman since February 1993, seven months before any of the Bruins’ four freshmen were born.

WSU has lost nine straight games, and 11 of its past 12. No other team in the conference has lost more than five in a row all season. The Cougars aren’t trending up either. Since one-point losses at home to both Oregon and Oregon State, they’ve lost their last three by an average of 11 points — allowing opponents to shoot 52.9 percent from the field over that stretch. Most comically, they’ve had 14.3 percent of their shots blocked, the worst mark in the country. Continue reading “UCLA at WSU: What to Watch” »

UCLA vs. WSU: Halftime update

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Looks like the UCLA offense may have finally woken up.

After three straight games shooting below 40 percent, the Bruins are humming along against Washington State. A 39-24 halftime lead almost feels too narrow given how terrible the Cougars looked through the first 20 minutes, which saw them go without a field goal for over nine minutes. WSU opened the game with three straight 3-pointers, but ended up shooting just 34.8 percent in the first half.

UCLA has also forced two shot clock violations, scoring 11 points off Washington State’s 11 turnovers. The Bruins are shooting 58.6 percent from the field, have assisted on all but three of their 17 baskets, and hold a 20-4 scoring edge in the paint. Meanwhile, Cougars center Brock Motum — the team’s leading scorer at 18.2 points per game — has four points on 1-of-6 shooting.

Shabazz Muhammad has a game-high 12 points, as well as two rebounds and two assists.

UCLA vs. WSU: What to Watch

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Washington State (11-12, 2-8)
Tipoff: 7 p.m., Pauley Pavilion
TV/Radio: Pac-12 Networks, AM 570

At a glance: Can UCLA’s offense get rolling again?

Twice in the last three games, the Bruins’ field goal attempts have outnumbered their point totals. Still first in the Pac-12 in points per game on the season, UCLA drops to fifth once you cut out the nonconference schedule. Their 69.7 average against league opponents trails USC and Stanford, both of whom are just 5-5 in the Pac-12.

“We need to do a better job taking good shots and being more selective,” head coach Ben Howland said.

The Cougars, who haven’t had a winning conference record since 2008, offer the Bruins a chance to get back on track. Washington State is one of the slowest teams in the conference, and will need to dictate the pace at Pauley Pavilion if it wants its third win of the calendar year. Continue reading “UCLA vs. WSU: What to Watch” »