Just weeks after a defensive battle in Boulder, UCLA and Colorado appear to have spiced things up. Both teams are shooting 50 percent or better at the half as the Buffs lead the Bruins 40-36.
UCLA jumped out to a 15-8 lead after a jumper from sophomore guard/forward Kyle Anderson. Over the next two minutes, the Bruins were stymied. A Josh Scott layup capped off a 12-2 Buffs run and gave Colorado a 17-15 advantage.
For the second straight game, UCLA was unable to rev its engine in the opening minutes. On the offensive end, freshman guard Zach LaVine committed two straight turnovers with just over ten minutes to play. A slow-footed offensive foul committed by sophomore forward/center Tony Parker less than a minute later forced coach Steve Alford to change something up. For the first time since UCLA’s blowout win over USC on Jan. 5, freshman forward Wanaah Bail touched the floor. He played just three minutes and did not take a shot.
Anderson leads all UCLA players with nine points on 3-of-6 shooting, as well as six assists. Redshirt senior forward Travis Wear is a perfect 4 for 4 from the field with eight points.
Defensively, the Bruins had no answer for Scott all half. The 6-foot-10 Colorado forward dominated the Bruins in the paint and has 13 points at the break – including a buzzer-beating slam dunk – after missing just two of his eight field goal attempts.
Still, the Bruins shot like their old selves – an even 50 percent for the half – and closed the half on a 15-5 run.
Compiled by Andrew Erickson, Bruin Sports senior staff.