LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bryce Alford scored 30 points and led a 3-point barrage with six of the Bruins’ school-record 18 in 16th-ranked UCLA’s 119-80 rout of Pacific in the teams’ season opener on Friday night.
Four starters scored in double figures for UCLA, including highly touted Lonzo Ball and T.J. Leaf. Ball finished with 19 points and 11 assists, while Leaf had 22 points and a game-high 15 rebounds in their college debuts.
Aaron Holiday added 18 points, including four 3-pointers, and Isaac Hamilton had 17 points in UCLA’s run-and-gun offense.
Pacific was led by T.J. Wallace with 21 points despite foul trouble and Ray Bowles with 14 points. Former NBA player Damon Stoudamire lost his college coaching debut.
The Tigers weren’t too shabby from 3-point range, either. They made 10 of 26, led by David Taylor, who made all three of his attempts.
But Pacific couldn’t defend the Bruins’ sharpshooters. They bettered the old record of 17 3-pointers set against Arizona on Jan. 19, 2002.
No. 9 UCLA women ride big 2nd half to win over Pacific
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Monique Billings had 15 points and 11 rebounds, and No. 9 UCLA dominated the third quarter in an 82-55 victory over Pacific to open the season Friday night.
Jordin Canada added 15 points and 12 rebounds, Nicole Kornet had 15 points and eight rebounds, and Kennedy Burke added 10 points.
Desire Finnie led Pacific with 17 points and GeAnna Luaulu-Summers added 14 points, making all six of her free throws. She had five of the Tigers’ 26 turnovers.
UCLA rallied to take a 38-32 lead at halftime.
The Tigers kept it close in the first few minutes of the third, getting to 42-38 on a 3-pointer by Jessica Blakeslee.
That’s when UCLA took over. The Bruins shot 68 percent from the floor and outscored the Tigers 33-12 in the period.
Billings and Canada had six points each in a 28-6 run that closed the third. The Bruins’ defense stepped up, too, limiting the Tigers to 29 percent shooting while several stops in a row.
It was the second blowout of a Tigers team in the same night. Earlier, the No. 16 UCLA men routed Pacific 119-80 in their season opener.
BIG PICTURE
Pacific: Last season, the Tigers’ opponents averaged 18.2 points in the third quarter. The Bruins upped that number considerably.
UCLA: It was the Bruins’ 400th home victory in program history. They’ve recorded 363 at Pauley Pavilion and 37 in the John R. Wooden Center. Coach Cori Close needs one win to reach 100 starting her sixth season.
UP NEXT
Pacific: Host UC Merced on Sunday.
UCLA: Visit second-ranked Baylor on Monday in an early season showdown.