UCLA
1-0,0-0Pac-12
Saint Francis (Pennsylvania)
0-1,0-0NEC
Bona Leads No. 25 UCLA Past Saint Francis, 75-44
November 06, 2023 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – Sophomore Adem Bona scored a career-high 28 points and added nine rebounds and four blocks, as the No. 25 UCLA men's basketball team defeated Saint Francis University, 75-44, on opening night at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom on Monday evening.
Kenneth Nwuba and Lazar Stefanovic both finished in double figures, totaling 10 points and 11 points, respectively, for the Bruins (1-0). Stefanovic also had eight rebounds and a team-leading four assists.
UCLA earned victory No. 100 under head coach Mick Cronin, who began his fifth season as The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. Cronin has now guided UCLA to an overall record of 100-36, into his fifth year in Westwood.
Postgame Press Conference: Coach Cronin | K. Nwuba, A. Bona, L. Stefanovic
In Monday's season opener, Bona threw down a dunk to get the Bruins on the board before blocking a shot on the ensuing possession. The sophomore forward/center had three blocks in the opening five minutes of the game and finished four total blocks on the night.
Saint Francis used a 6-0 run to tie the game at 8-8 with just under 12 minutes remaining in the first half before Stefanovic drained a three for the Bruins.
The Red Flash led by a 14-13 margin before another Bona block led to a fast-break opportunity on the other end for UCLA. Sebastian Mack helped to put the Bruins back ahead, 15-14, with 8:13 remaining in the first half.
The Bruins settled in, using a 16-8 scoring run over the course of the final eight minutes of the half to take a 32-22 lead into the locker room at halftime. During that scoring run, six Bruins made a basket.
Bona continued to dominate down low for UCLA to start the second half, scoring eight of the Bruins' first 12 points. That pushed UCLA ahead, 44-27, with 16:08 left in the game.
Will McClendon drained a three-point basket with 14:19 remaining in the contest, extending the Bruins advantage to 20 points (at 49-29). From that point, UCLA's lead was never in doubt.
UCLA extended its advantage to a then game-high 23 points with 4:59 remaining, courtesy of two made foul shots by Brandon Williams. UCLA finished the game having forced 20 turnovers, and held the Red Flash to 33% from the field.
The Bruins finished the game on a 10-0 scoring run and secured a 75-44 victory on Monday evening.
Gestin Liberis led the Red Flash in the scoring column with 12 points, connecting on four of seven shots from the field.
UCLA will continue its regular-season schedule against Lafayette on Friday, Nov. 10. Game time in Pauley Pavilion is set for 8 p.m. The Bruins' game will be televised by the Pac-12 Network, with J.B. Long and Don MacLean on the call from Pauley Pavilion.
