University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
Long Beach St
UCLA Downs Long Beach State, 75-62
November 30, 2004 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 30, 2004
By Beth Harris
Los Angeles (AP) - Dijon Thompson scored 25 points, helping UCLA rally after blowing a 14-point lead in the second half of a 75-62 victory over Long Beach State on Tuesday night.
The Bruins are 4-0 for the first time since 1994-95, when they finished 31-1 and won their record 11th national championship.
UCLA freshman Arron Afflalo added 21 points and six assists.
Shawn Hawkins led Long Beach State (1-3) with 15 points.
The 49ers outscored UCLA 28-10 to start the second half and erase a 14-point deficit. A free throw by Tony Bryant ended the spurt and gave Long Beach State a 51-48 lead.
Thompson put the Bruins ahead for good on a pair of free throws after the game was tied at 55-all with 8{ minutes left. His total was one point off his career high of 26. In all, Thompson scored six straight points, hitting a hook shot and two more free throws for a 61-56 lead.
Afflalo hit a wide-open 3-pointer off a pass from freshman Jordan Farmar, who scored on a fastbreak layin for a 66-56 lead. Farmar finished with six points, six assists, three steals and four turnovers on his 18th birthday.
The Bruins were outrebounded for the first time this season, 32-26, but held their fourth straight opponent to 40 percent or less field-goal shooting. The 49ers shot 40 percent and committed 19 turnovers.
UCLA is 10-0 against Long Beach State.
The Bruins raced to a 10-point lead to start the game before the 49ers settled down and outscored them 17-4 to take a 19-16 lead. Farmar committed consecutive turnovers with the game tied at 16-all.
Then it was UCLA's turn to dominate again. The Bruins outscored the 49ers 22-4, including seven points by Afflalo, who had a 3-pointer that ended the half with UCLA ahead 38-23. The Bruins were 12-of-14 from the line during the spurt, with Thompson making four in a row.
