Field Level Media
Dec 3, 2020
Tyger Campbell scored 17 points and Jules Bernard added 16 as UCLA earned a 78-52 nonconference victory over Seattle University on Thursday in the delayed home opener for the Bruins.
UCLA (2-1) was supposed to play its first home game Monday, but that contest was postponed because of COVID-19 concerns among its opponent, Long Beach State.
Bruins big man Jalen Hill scored 11 points with 10 rebounds in 25 minutes of his season debut. Hill missed the opening two games with tendonitis in his left knee.
Chris Smith added 11 rebounds for UCLA, which owned a 42-24 advantage on the boards over the smaller Redhawks. UCLA had a tighter 42-34 advantage on points in the paint.
Riley Grigsby scored 12 points and Aaron Nettles added 11 as Seattle (3-2) played its fifth consecutive road game to open its season. The Redhawks will play two more on the road before playing their home opener, although one of those two games is at Seattle against Washington.
Smith, who was named to the Wooden Award watch list this week, was 0 of 4 from the field in the first half before he finished with six points on 2-of-7 shooting. The Bruins shot 54.9 percent from the field, while turning up their defense to hold Seattle to 39-percent shooting.
The game was tied with 4:44 remaining in the first half at 29-29 before UCLA closed out the opening 20 minutes on a 14-0 run to take a 43-29 lead into the break. The Bruins shot 17 free throws in the first half (making 11), to six attempts (two makes) for Seattle.
The Bruins' scoring run was extended to 18-0 early in the second half before Nettles made a short jumper for Seattle with 17:53 remaining.
UCLA opened their advantage to 20 points at 51-31 with 13:50 to play after a pair of free throws from Smith.
Campbell added a game-high six assists for UCLA.
--Field Level Media