As the non-conference schedule keeps rolling in, the UCLA Bruins improve to 3-0 on the young season as they push aside Nicholls State at the Pauley Pavilion by a score of 107-74 tonight. We all know that the early part of the college basketball season is about bigger name schools testing out their new players against lesser known colleges while throwing in the occasional big test.
Later on in UCLA's schedule, before PAC-12 play begins, they play a very good Oklahoma squad before taking on Gonzaga and Kentucky later in December. But early on, Steve Alford has the Bruins rolling as they pushed aside Montana State, Costal Carolina, and Nicholls State.
UCLA got just about anything they wanted on offense Thursday as three starters scored over 20 points tonight, which is really astounding. 6 foot 9 inch forward Kevon Looney secured a double-double by getting only 12 points, but secured 14 rebounds with five of them coming on the offensive board. Norman Powell had been averaging 19 points a game so far, and put up more than his average tonight as he finished with 23, shooting 8 of 14 from the field, making six three point attempts on the evening.
The Bruins had complete control of the game in the first half as they scorched Nicholls State for 60 points during the first 20 minutes of the game. UCLA shot a very impressive 56%, making 38 of 68 shots from the field. But what was most impressive was their unselfishness, as they combined for a total of 28 assists, while also coming away with 49 total rebounds as well, compared to Nicholls State's 33, 21 on the defensive side of the ball.
In the second half, Nicholls State was more consistent, but they were never able to claw their way back into this after UCLA poured it on in the first half. The Colonels went toe-to-toe with the Bruins in the second half as they put up an amazing 45 points, but were outscored by just two. Amin Torres had a really good night fort the Colonels coming off the bench, leading the team with eighteen points on the court. Who knows what would have happened if Torres had more of a say in the game? Could the Colonels have found themselves in a tight game against a PAC-12 school? Sadly, for the Southland Conference school, it just was not meant to be.
Up next for Nicholls State is a test against ACC school Wake Forest, a much better matchup for them. Meanwhile, the Bruins of UCLA will play Long Beach State this Sunday evening.