Stunned in season opener

This was definitely not how UCLA imagined opening its 91st year playing men’s basketball.

Even with a preseason full of doubt and misfortune for the Bruin program, what officially materialized on Nell and John Wooden Court late Monday night could not have been anticipated.

In an abysmal and demoralizing double-overtime game marked by a horrific shooting performance by the Bruins, UCLA (0-1) dropped their season opener to Cal State Fullerton (2-0).

The 68-65 loss was only their ninth in a home opener in the legendary history of the program and the first under coach Ben Howland.

The Bruins’ biggest opponent for much of the game was themselves, shooting just 31 percent from the field and 47.1 percent from the charity stripe line.

Nikola Dragovic’s nightmarish shooting night ““ he went only 2-for-14 from the floor with just a single 3 in nine attempts ““ dragged the Bruins’ shooting percentage from beyond the arc to 17.2 percent. Many of the shots were ones these Bruins are used to making.

“Of the 29 3s (we shot), I would say at least half of those were pretty darn good looks that we just didn’t knock down,” Howland said.

Still, they were given a chance to tie the game with 12 seconds left in the final period.

Senior guard Michael Roll, who seemed to be the only UCLA player making any shots all night, missed a 3 that could have tied the game shortly before the buzzer sounded.

After the game, Howland took some responsibility for the loss, noting he overplayed his starting players, which would hurt them in the end.

“Asking Mike Roll to play 49 minutes is just too much,” Howland said.

Despite Dragovic’s performance, Howland kept with his senior captain, playing him for 40 minutes, including all of the two extra periods.

One of the only things keeping the Bruins in the game was the Titans’ equally meager offensive output and a strong proclivity for turnovers. Fullerton racked up 19 on the night, mostly on ball-handling violations.

Freshman forward Reeves Nelson was a rare bright spot on both ends of the floor for UCLA, totaling 11 points and six rebounds, but all of his 12 minutes came in regulation.

A 9-2 Bruin run midway through the second half highlighted by several Nelson layups brought UCLA back into the game after being down 33-27 at the half. The Bruins still could not break the tight Titan zone defense.

“You just credit their defense,” Roll said. “They mixed it up zone and man and they did a good job packing it in and forcing us to shoot a lot of 3s.”

There were plenty of lost opportunities to win for both teams.

Sophomore guard Malcolm Lee chose a contested 3-pointer to close the first overtime despite the Bruins being given the ball back with 27 seconds after another Titan turnover.

The game was televised across the nation as part of ESPN’s 24-hour College Hoops Season Tip-Off special, but Westwood was unable to enjoy the excitement.

“To me, every loss is a shocking loss,” sophomore forward Drew Gordon said. “I feel like every time we lose, a little piece of me dies inside.”

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