Claire-ification: Gonzaga’s Kennel makes UCLA’s Den look tame

SPOKANE, Wash. – There are these red T-shirts popular among Gonzaga students that have the words “Official Sixth Man” stamped prominently across the back. The first time I saw them was walking around campus with my sister during her freshman year in Spokane six years ago. I didn’t get it. I thought the first guy […]

UCLA notches second consecutive upset, tops Gonzaga 71-66

SPOKANE, Wash. – When UCLA upset then-No.1 Kentucky just over a week ago, there was raucous celebration in the locker room. When the Bruins topped the No. 20 Gonzaga Bulldogs 71-66 Saturday night, the celebrating was limited to junior guard Bryce Alford pumping his fist at midcourt. While the Wildcats had embarrassed the Bruins in […]

UCLA trails Gonzaga 32-30 at halftime

SPOKANE, Wash. — UCLA has done its best not to let the raucous crowd take control of this game.  Playing in front of their toughest road environment all year, the Bruins (6-3) got out to a 13-5 lead by the 16:37 mark in the first half, silencing a sell-out Kennel crowd that was literally shaking the […]

Bruins enter hostile territory to face Bulldogs

SPOKANE, Wash. – It’s 30 degrees in Eastern Washington, but over at McCarthey Athletic Center the UCLA men’s basketball season is heating up. The Bruins are riding a three-game winning streak into their matchup with the No. 20 Gonzaga Bulldogs. The most significant of those wins made headlines nationwide as UCLA upset then-No.1 Kentucky Dec. […]

UCLA follows win over Kentucky with close defeat of Long Beach State

The worry did not subside for Steve Alford. Even though the toughest opponent on his schedule – No. 1 Kentucky – had already come and gone, the UCLA coach was still very wary of the next team coming: Long Beach State. Alford knew that the 49ers (5-5) had top-level experience, playing the 16th-toughest schedule in […]

A look back: UCLA gains first No. 1 takedown since 2003

UCLA men’s basketball pulled off the improbable Thursday, knocking off top-ranked Kentucky in front of 12,202 fans at Pauley Pavilion. Students decked out in gold shirts ran onto the court as the band played a triumphant round of “Sons of Westwood” and a resurgent Bruin squad celebrated their first upset of a No. 1 team […]

Matter of Fact: Prince Ali’s dunk more than just a highlight

I still haven’t seen the video. I don’t know if I want to. I don’t know if I want to force myself to judge it through the same lens as every other highlight-reel play I’ve seen in my life. I don’t want to ruin it. I mean, maybe – maybe – it’s not the greatest […]