UCLA Bruins Dominate Lehigh in 85-45 Victory with Adjusted Defense Strategy
LOS ANGELES — The UCLA Bruins showcased their defensive prowess on Friday night, overpowering the Lehigh Hawks with an impressive 85-45 victory at Pauley Pavilion. This marked a strategic shift for the Bruins, who opted for solid perimeter defense and sporadic half-court traps, stepping back from their usual full-court press.
In a remarkable performance just four days after limiting Boston to 40 points, UCLA constrained Lehigh to a mere 16 points in the first half. Although the Hawks, now 0-4, rallied with a stronger showing after halftime, they faced a formidable Bruins defense that held them without any offensive rebounds, a point of concern earlier in the season for head coach Mick Cronin. "We held a college basketball team to 40 points. It’s really hard to do," Cronin asserted, emphasizing the significance of the defense regardless of the opponent’s stature.
Despite a less aggressive defensive approach leading to only 11 turnovers, the Bruins excelled on the offensive end, with Eric Dailey Jr. leading the charge with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Aday Mara scored a career-high 16 points in just 13 minutes of play. However, UCLA’s offense displayed some inconsistency, with the team struggling to create assists early on.
Moving forward, the Bruins will focus on refining their half-court offense before their next challenging matchup against Washington on December 3. With a roster featuring nine new faces, they are still learning to gel as a unit. Their next opportunity to address these issues will come on Wednesday when they host Idaho State at 8 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion.
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