University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Olympic Roundup - Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012
August 02, 2012 | Bruin Athletics, Olympics
Aug. 2, 2012
Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook helped the U.S. Men's Basketball team make history, Mark Hunter advanced to the finals in lightweight double sculls, and Adam Wright and Chay Lapin led the U.S. Water Polo team to victory over Great Britain, as UCLA Olympians continued to exhibit strong play in London.
Men's Basketball
Russell Westbrook scored 21 points, second-highest on the team, and Kevin Love added 15 points and six rebounds as the USA men's basketball team defeated Nigeria, 156-73, in preliminary play on Thursday evening in London. Team USA established the tone early, outscoring Nigeria by a 49-25 margin in the first quarter. The U.S. team led at halftime by a 78-45 margin and reached the 100-point mark with nearly five minutes to play in the third quarter.
With 4:34 to play, Team USA had eclipsed the single-game Olympic scoring record of 138 points, established by Brazil in 1988. The U.S. finished the game with an 83-point lead, well ahead of the Dream Team's record win (68 points over Angola in 1992). The United States connected on 29-of-46 three-point attempts (63 percent rate), with Love shooting 3-for-6, and Westbrook finishing 3-for-4. Love and Westbrook rank third (15.0 ppg) and fourth (13.7 ppg), respectively, in scoring for Team USA at the Olympics.
Team USA returns to action against Lithuania on Saturday, Aug. 4. Game time is 6:30am PT.
Men's Water Polo
Former UCLA goalkeeper Chay Lapin saw his first action in the Olympics, playing the final three quarters in goal for Team USA, which defeated host country Great Britain, 13-7, to remain undefeated in preliminary-round action. The victory puts Team USA at 3-0 and atop Group B standings with six points. Lapin was credited with eight saves in his 24 minutes in the cage. Former UCLA player and current head coach of the Bruins' men's water polo team, Adam Wright, played 17 minutes, scoring one goal from long distance that gave Team USA a 6-0 lead with 7:32 left in the second period. Team USA (3-0-0) faces gold medal favorite Serbia (2-1-0) on Saturday, Aug. 4 at 11:40am PT and will wrap up group play with defending Olympic champion Hungary (1-0-2) on Monday, Aug. 6 at 7:30am PT.
Men's Volleyball
The U.S. Men's Volleyball Team raised its Poll B record to 3-0 with a 3-1 victory against Brazil on Thursday. The Americans, with John Speraw as their assistant coach and Mike Sealy as their chief scout, won 23-25, 27-25, 25-19, 25-17. The USA next faces Russia on Saturday at 8:45am PT.
Rowing
Former UCLA assistant women's rowing coach Mark Hunter and teammate Zac Purchase finished first in a semifinal heat of the men's lightweight double sculls on Thursday morning in London. The duo has advanced to the finals, slated to take place on Saturday, Aug. 4. Hunter and Purchase will be rowing in lane 3 in the six-heat medal-contending final. Hunter and Purchase won the gold medal in the lightweight double sculls event in 2008 (Beijing Olympics).
Julie Nichols and racing partner Kristin Hedstrom finished fourth in a six-boat semifinal of the women's lightweight double sculls on Thursday and will race in a consolation final on Saturday. The American duo can finish as high as seventh place overall when it races at 2:40am PT.
London Log-In
UCLA Men's Volleyball head coach John Speraw writes about a great Olympic judo moment, former UCLA gymnast Ariana Berlin talks about pin trading, and UCLA Associate AD Mike Sondheimer discusses the differences between the U.S. and British broadcasting in Thursday's London Log-In.
Coming Up Friday
Women's Soccer - Bruin alums Lauren Cheney and Sydney Leroux (U.S.) play current Bruin Rosie White (New Zealand) at 6:30am PT in an elimination quarterfinal game. The game will be televised live on NBC Sports Network and online at NBCOlympics.com. Current Bruin Chelsea Stewart and team Canada play host Great Britain in the quarterfinals at 11:30am PT. The game will also be televised live on NBC Sports Network and online.
Women's Water Polo - Team USA ends group play against China at 11:40am PT. Watch live on NBCOlympics.com.
Women's Volleyball - Team USA, which has UCLA alum Karch Kiraly on staff, plays Serbia at Noon PT. Watch live online or delayed on the West Coast on NBC in primetime.
Rowing - Former UCLA club rower Silas Stafford races in the Men's Pair consolation final at 2:20am PT. Watch online live at NBCOlympics.com.
