UCLAs dismal effort in comeback over Cal Poly

The scattered boos that serenaded the home crew inside Pauley Pavilion going into halftime have been nicely earned.

UCLA was trailing by two factors after placing in a low effort against a mid-major crew with a shedding report from the Big West Conference.

The Cal Poly brand on the entrance of the opponents’ jerseys didn’t elicit the same kind of spirited effort the Bruins had given against more brand-name foes, persevering with a troubling development going back to the season opener.

Skyy Clark ultimately bailed out UCLA with another big offensive displaying, main the Bruins to a reduction of a 108-87 victory Friday night time, but loads of worries linger.

Why does UCLA keep enjoying to the extent of its opponent? How do the Bruins clarify giving up 45 factors in the first half? And what’s going on with Xavier Booker?

Apparently sad with what he noticed from his middle in three unproductive first-half minutes, UCLA coach Mick Cronin began Jamar Brown in place of Booker to start the second half as half of a three-guard lineup. Cronin said earlier in the week that Booker sprained his ankle in apply, an injury the big man appeared to exacerbate against Arizona State on Wednesday. Booker didn’t play in the second half against the Mustangs.

Removing Booker from the lineup entailed shifting ahead Tyler Bilodeau back to middle, a place he’s performed with growing frequency over the last week. The Bruins (9-3) proceeded to go on a 15-0 run early in the second half to rework a two-point deficit into a 60-47 lead, eradicating any doubt about the end result.

This was another case of UCLA merely outgunning an opponent, the Bruins taking pictures 57.4% to Cal Poly’s 51% during a recreation in which protection was performed only in spurts.

Clark continued his latest scoring spree, ending with a season-high 30 factors on 10-for-19 taking pictures while making six of 12 three-pointers and incomes a loud ovation upon his departure with 2½ minutes left. He obtained loads of help from Bilodeau (24 factors and eight rebounds) and level guard Donovan Dent (16 factors, 11 assists and 5 steals) as the Bruins notched a second consecutive victory.

Cayden Ward scored 21 factors for Cal Poly (5-8), which had been given a 2% probability of successful, according to the metrics of basketball analyst Ken Pomeroy.

By halftime the chance of a large upset had crept uncomfortably upward for UCLA.

Giving up open pictures as half of a lackluster defensive effort wasn’t almost the worst of it for the Bruins.

Trent Perry twice fouled a three-point shooter, once prompting Cronin to yell, “Get over here!” after Perry despatched Ward to the free-throw line for three pictures. A new low got here late in the first half when Brown fouled Hamad Mousa on a three-pointer that went in, Mousa making the free throw to full a four-point play.

Brown immediately was changed by Perry, whose defensive inattentiveness rapidly reemerged when Ward beat him off the dribble for a one-handed dunk.

UCLA guard Donovan Dent, middle, dribbles past Cal Poly guards Guzman Vasilic, left, and Kieran Elliott to rating during the second half Friday night time.

(Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

Cal Poly shot 56% on the way in which to taking a 45-43 halftime lead, making 9 of 17 pictures (52.9%) from three-point vary. After Peter Bandelj made one shot from long vary, he kissed his hand and raised it to the rafters in a modified chef’s kiss gesture.

UCLA was down by only two factors largely because of the continued offensive barrage of Clark, who repeatedly sought alternatives from long vary and made three of eight three-pointers on the way in which to 15 factors by the sport’s midpoint.

Thankfully for the Bruins, there was more to come.