UCLA
5-2
Hawai'i
4-4
UCLA Men's Basketball Takes Down Hawai'i, 80-61
November 28, 2018 | Men's Basketball
Coach Alford Press Conference | Players' Press Conference
LOS ANGELES โ Prince Ali hit his first eight field goals and scored a career-high 23 points as UCLA defeated Hawai'i, 80-61, Wednesday evening at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom.
Kris Wilkes added 16 points for UCLA (5-2), while Moses Brown rounded out a trio of Bruins in double figures with 11. Jaylen Hands distributed a career-high 11 assists and had just two turnovers in the win.
"A lot of positives, and I told the guys that," said Steve Alford, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. "I do think we relaxed a little bit in the second half, and that's just something you've got to continue to work on. Many more positives than negatives in the half. I thought we got Cody [Riley]ย in the flow a little bit in the second half, as well as Mo [Moses Brown]. Jaylen did a great job of running things with 11 assists, two turnovers."
Ali knocked down four 3-pointers within the first four minutes of the contest and stayed hot throughout the opening half, converting six-of-six shots in total for 16 points. As a team, the Bruins knocked down eight shots from distance in the initial 20 minutes and shot 57% (17 of 30) from the field. Their defense was equally impressive, as the Rainbow Warriors were successful on just 33% (9 of 33) of their attempts. UCLA made its final four shots of the first half and went into the locker room with a 45-26 advantage.
Over a second-half stretch that saw them make six-of-seven shots, the Bruins extended their game-high lead to 27. Cody Riley knocked down three in a row and scored eight points in the second half. The Rainbow Warriors cut their deficit to 16 with 5:30 to go but could get no closer. An Ali dunk punctuated the win and gave the redshirt junior his new personal-best scoring mark.
Owen Hulland scored 14 points off the bench to lead Hawai'I, whose record drops to 4-4.
The Bruins will continue their four-game home stand on Sunday, Dec. 2 with a 7pm contest against unbeaten Loyola Marymount.
