TEMPE, Ariz. “”mdash; Throughout Ben Howland’s tenure as coach of the UCLA men’s basketball team, the Bruins have prided themselves on their defensive abilities.
Yet, so far this season, the normally reliable defense has been uncharacteristically absent in Bruin losses against Texas and USC.
Against the Sun Devils at Wells Fargo Arena, that familiar defense returned.
With the No. 4 Bruins struggling to crack the Arizona State zone defense, the team relied on its defense to keep them in the game. With 8:41 left in the first half, the score was tied 9-9.
And it was the defense that turned the game in the Bruins’ favor.
Darren Collison was pleased with the way the defense played, picking up the slack for the stagnant offense.
“You’re going to have your times and slumps throughout the basketball game,” Collison said. “You’re going to be inconsistent at times. But most importantly I thought we did a good job of playing defense. Those are the times ““ when we play defense the last five, six games ““ that’s when we’ve won the games. We played good defense, and fortunately we knocked down the shots.”
One of the key plays of the first half, and the game, came with 1:14 left in the half with the Bruins holding a 23-18 advantage. Arizona State freshman star James Hardin drove to the basket and missed a dunk. Josh Shipp hit a 3-pointer on the Bruins’ next possession.
“Obviously the missed dunk by Hardin was a huge play because it would have cut it to three,” Howland said. “Instead, he misses, Josh hits a 3, now it’s an eight-point lead.”
ZONE BUSTERS: Despite a slow start, the Bruins were able to find success against the Sun Devil zone by knocking down outside shots.
“When you play a zone team, you have to make some 3s and loosen them up,” Howland said. ” (In the) first half we were very good.”
The Bruins were 6-of-11 from the behind the arc in the first half, and were 10-of-20 for the game. The Bruins had struggled from beyond the arc in recent games.
SHIPP’S SLUMP ENDS: For the first time in six games, Shipp made a 3-pointer. In fact, as if to make up for lost time, Shipp made four of his eight attempts.
When asked about how it felt, Shipp chuckled.
“I guess a moment of relief to finally get one drop,” he said.
Shipp’s first 3 came three minutes into the game and marked the first points of the game. However, he then proceeded to air-ball his next two attempts.
“Maybe I was a little too excited,” Shipp said. “I got fouled (on the second one). That’s what happened. I got fouled and it went short, and the third one was long. You can watch it on tape. I don’t air-ball.”
Shipp finished with 17 points, eight assists, four rebounds and zero turnovers in what Howland called his best game of the season.
DRIBBLERS: The Phoenix Suns’ newly acquired center, Shaquille O’Neal, was in attendance … The ASU student section began a chant of “Jerren is better,” referring to Shipp’s brother who plays for Arizona State.