UCLA
7-3
Denver
4-6
Bruins Defeat Denver, 81-62
December 08, 2019 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – Sophomore Cody Riley had a 21-point, 11-rebound double-double to lead the UCLA men's basketball team past Denver, 81-62, on Sunday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom.
The Bruins (7-3) also received double-digit scoring from freshman Jaime Jaquez Jr. (16 points) and senior Prince Ali (11 points).
Riley's double-double marked career-highs for the sophomore forward in points (21), rebounds (11) and made field goals (9). He finished the game having made 9 of 13 shots and 3 of 4 free throws through 22 minutes.
Jaquez Jr.'s 16-points game marked the third time in UCLA's last four games in which the freshman from Camarillo, Calif., had scored in double figures.
The Bruins controlled the interior against the visiting Pioneers (4-6), out-rebounding Denver by a 41-27 margin and out-scoring the visitors in the paint, 40-22.
In addition, UCLA's defense forced 17 turnovers by Denver, including 12 in the first half.
"Obviously we did some good things, took care of the ball today for the most part," said Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. "Cody was tremendous for a long stretch. He can score if you don't double him."
UCLA opened the game on an 11-0 run, a scoring streak highlighted by a steal and one-handed slam dunk from Jaquez Jr.
Denver was firing from beyond the 3-point arc, having made 6 of 10 long-range attempts before halftime, to stay within striking distance. After having trailed 11-0, Denver reduced UCLA's cushion to two points – 13-11 – with 14:32 to play. UCLA led the Pioneers 31-29 with 4:05 to play before the break, using a 12-3 scoring run to close the first half.
Key plays from UCLA's late scoring run included an uncontested slam dunk by Ali and a 3-point basket from Jaquez Jr., just seconds before the final buzzer.
UCLA remained in control throughout the second half, never allowing the lead to slip to fewer than 10 points. A 9-0 UCLA scoring run, capped by a pair of free throws from Jalen Hill at the 12:30 mark, put the Bruins ahead by 19 points (60-41) with 13 minutes remaining in regulation.
The Bruins expanded their cushion to 20 points with over one minute to play, as freshman guard Jake Kyman made a pair of free throws after a steal around mid-court.
Denver's Ade Murkey scored a team-leading 18 points. The Pioneers also had 10 points from Jase Townsend. Murkey made 7 of 12 shots for Denver, including 3 of 5 attempts from 3-point distance.
UCLA will return to action at Notre Dame on Saturday, Dec. 14. Game time is 12 p.m. (PT) / 3 p.m. (ET). The Bruins' game at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Ind., will be nationally televised on ABC. Dave Pasch and Bill Walton will have the call.
