ANAHEIM “”mdash; Just like many students in Westwood, the UCLA men’s basketball team is trying to build its resume. One thing that could help the Bruins’ case when it comes NCAA Tournament time is a marquee non-conference win, and the last opportunity most likely comes today.
So far, so good for the Bruins, who hold a 43-37 lead at the half against the No. 16 BYU Cougars in the annual John R. Wooden Classic.
The focus coming into the game was BYU star guard and preseason All-American Jimmer Fredette, and he has lived up to the billing. Fredette leads the way with a game-high 17 points, but the lack of balance for the Cougars is the reason they find themselves behind at the half. No other BYU player has more than four points.
UCLA, on the other hand, has seen key contributions from multiple players on the way to its six-point halftime lead. Sophomore forward Reeves Nelson leads the way with 12 points, while sophomore forward Tyler Honeycutt has added six of his own.
Junior guards Malcolm Lee and Lazeric Jones used some stingy defense to keep Fredette out of the picture for a key stretch late in the half, but UCLA still has work to do to secure a win that could prove crucial when it comes Selection Sunday.