SAN FRANCISCO — Perhaps it’s time to fret.
Some uneven play from UCLA over the season’s first few weeks could possibly be shrugged off as a crew crammed with new gamers discovering its footing.
However there was no cheap rationalization for what occurred Tuesday evening.
Taking part in a former Pac-12 rival in a matchup that ought to have stirred some depth, the Bruins as an alternative seemed like that they had little curiosity in being right here.
Ardour wasn’t an issue for California. The Golden Bears have been the harder and extra decided crew in handing the No. 18 Bruins an 80-72 loss within the Empire Traditional at Chase Heart.
UCLA guard Donovan Dent takes the ball up the courtroom.
(Jan Kim Lim / UCLA Athletics)
Issues bottomed out with about two minutes to go when UCLA level guard Donovan Dent went down with an obvious decrease leg harm and limped off the courtroom.
The Bruins’ comeback hopes formally ended when Cal’s Dai Dai Ames unleashed a crossover transfer that he adopted with a three-pointer to offer the Golden Bears an eight-point lead with 1:24 remaining.
Most regarding for UCLA have been the continued struggles of Dent. The switch from New Mexico who arrived with nice fanfare has hardly seemed like a top-level participant by the season’s first month.
His exhibiting Tuesday represented a brand new low. He by no means seemed snug on the courtroom whereas making simply one in all eight photographs on the best way to a few factors and committing almost as many turnovers (six) as assists (seven). His season-long capturing woes are notably acute on the three-point line (10%) and free-throw line (56.7%).
UCLA’s Trent Perry scored 19 factors and Eric Dailey Jr. had 17, nevertheless it wasn’t almost sufficient because the Bruins (5-2) allowed the Golden Bears (6-1) to make 11 of twenty-two three-pointers (50%).
Huge bother loomed for the Bruins when Chris Bell (22 factors) rose for a nook three-pointer that gave Cal a 65-53 lead with 9:29 left, prompting UCLA coach Mick Cronin to go to his solely dependable device, a timeout.
His crew rallied, pulling inside 71-67 with rather less than 5 minutes to play on a nook three-pointer from Jamar Brown. UCLA heart Xavier Booker then bought the massive contingent of Bruins followers roaring with a ferocious block. That was nearly as good because it bought for the Bruins.
UCLA ahead Tyler Bilodeau, the crew’s main scorer, missed his second consecutive recreation with a knee sprain that would maintain him out one other week or so. However he gave the impression to be shifting effectively whereas getting in some pregame dribbling work with assistant coach David Singleton.
An entertaining, if not crisply performed, first half ended with UCLA holding a 41-36 lead. With Dent’s funk deepening with a one-point effort during which he missed all three photographs, Perry stepped up with 12 factors off the bench to guide the Bruins.
Aggressively attacking the basket, Perry rewarded followers who had unleashed a loud “U-C-L-A!” chant with an old style three-point play on a driving layup during which he was fouled. The Bruins went with a four-guard lineup for a stretch late within the first half that appeared to stabilize issues after Dailey struggled along with his shot choice and ahead Brandon Williams picked up two fouls.
Dent, the guard that UCLA wants most, nonetheless has not confirmed up this season within the style anticipated. Now there’s an harm so as to add to the record of worries.
