UCLA
Lafayette
No. 25 Men's Basketball Hosts Lafayette on Friday Night
November 08, 2023 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – The No. 25-ranked UCLA men's basketball team will host Lafayette on Friday evening in a nonconference game in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Game time is set for 8 p.m. (PT). The Bruins' contest will be televised by the Pac-12 Network, with J.B. Long and Don MacLean calling the action.
UCLA opened its regular-season schedule with a 75-44 win against Saint Francis on Monday evening. Sophomore Adem Bona scored a career-high 28 points and totaled nine rebounds and four blocks in the win. Lazar Stefanovic had 11 points and Kenneth Nwuba totaled 10 points. The Bruins led at halftime, 32-22, and outscored Saint Francis by a 43-22 margin in the second half.
GAME INFORMATION
Venue: Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom
Capacity: 13,800
Tipoff Time: 8:06 p.m. (PT)
Television: Pac-12 Network
TV Talent: J.B. Long (play-by-play), Don MacLean (analyst)
Radio Broadcast (UCLA Sports Network): AM 1150
Radio Talent: Josh Lewin (play-by-play), Tracy Murray (analyst)
SIRIUS XM: SiriusXM 84 and on the SXM App
TICKET INFORMATION
UCLA's season ticket packages for this year's men's basketball campaign are now available. Single-game tickets for UCLA's nonconference home games can be purchased online (link here). For more information about tickets, call UCLA Athletic Sales & Service at (310) 206-5991 or via email at tickets@athletics.ucla.edu. Additional information about season parking permits can be accessed here.
UCLA faculty and staff members can secure a five-dollar ticket for all nonconference weeknight games (except the contest against Maryland on Dec. 22). Please show proper UCLA I.D. at the Pauley Pavilion ticket window on the day of the game to purchase at this discounted rate.
This Friday will be Veterans and Armed Forces Appreciation Night (details available here). Fans have the option to purchase one game ticket and UCLA will match and donate ticket(s) to local military heroes. In addition, fans can donate tickets to a military hero without purchasing one for yourself.
ENTRY TO PAULEY PAVILION, CLEAR BAG POLICY
Since the 2016-17 season, the UCLA Athletics Department has used a "clear bag policy" that limits the size and type of bags that may be brought into the arena (additional details and FAQ here). This is part of an effort to provide a safer environment for the public and to significantly expedite fan entry into Pauley Pavilion. Limiting the size and type of bags carried into the venue will assist in maintaining a safe and secure environment, as well as decreasing the time to enter the venue. The UCLA Athletics Department encourages fans not to bring any bags, but this policy is in place to help balance fan needs with the needs for improved safety and convenience.
ONE-ON-ONE WITH COACH CRONIN
Learn more about this season's UCLA team in a one-on-one Q-and-A session with head coach Mick Cronin, who has led UCLA to a 99-36 record through four seasons in Westwood (interview link here).
KEY NOTES ABOUT UCLA
– The Bruins have returned four of their contributors from last season's rotation – redshirt senior Kenneth Nwuba, redshirt sophomore Will McClendon and sophomores Dylan Andrews and Adem Bona. UCLA has added eight incoming student-athletes, including one transfer and seven freshmen. Last season, UCLA went 31-6 overall and 18-2 in Pac-12 play, winning the Pac-12 regular-season title for the first time since 2013. The Bruins advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16.
– UCLA has advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of the past three seasons. The Bruins earned their 19th NCAA Final Four apperance in 2021, securing a No. 11-seed in the 68-team field and advancing from the "First Four" to the Final Four. In 2022 and 2023, UCLA won its first and second-round matchups before losing in the Sweet 16. In all, UCLA's program has advanced to the NCAA Tournament 52 times and has won a nation-leading 11 NCAA titles.
– Mick Cronin has entered his fifth year as the Bruins' head coach (The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach). Now in his 21st season as a college head coach, Coach Cronin has guided UCLA's program to 100-36 overall record. He has led the Bruins to a combined 58-19 record in Pac-12 play in four seasons. UCLA's 31 victories last season were the most by any Bruins' squad since UCLA went 31-5 during the 2016-17 season.
PRESEASON NOTES
The 2023-24 school year marks the 105th season in which UCLA has fielded a men's basketball team (first season was 1919-20). UCLA entered this season ranked No. 25 in the preseason USA Today Coaches poll (unranked in the preseason AP poll). Last fall, UCLA was ranked in the preseason at No. 8 in the AP poll and No. 7 in the USA Today Coaches poll. In addition, this year's Bruins have been slotted No. 3 in the Pac-12's preseason media poll, as announced at Pac-12 Media Day on Wednesday, Oct. 11. Arizona was selected as the league's preseason favorite, followed by USC in the No. 2 spot.
SOPHOMORE STANDOUT
Sophomore forward/center Adem Bona was named as one of the Pac-12 Conference's 10 selections to the preseason all-league first team, as announced in October. He was honored last season as the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, the Bruins' first such freshman selection since Lonzo Ball in 2017. He was an honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection and was one of five players named to the league's all-defensive team. Bona, who was born in Lagos, Nigeria, was listed as the No. 56 player in the "Lindy's 150," the top 150 players in the nation according to the Lindy's Sports preseason college magazine.
POINT GUARD PRECISION
The Bruins' roster has three talented players who have experience at the point guard position, with sophomore Dylan Andrews and freshmen Sebastian Mack (Chicago, Ill.) and Jan Vide (Domzale, Slovenia). Andrews helped to back up Tyger Campbell last season, averaging 3.3 points and 0.9 assists in 36 games. As a freshman last year, Andrews shot 43 percent from the field (46-of-107) and connected on 13 of 41 attempts from 3-point distance (31.7%). Mack spent last year at Coronado High School in Las Vegas, while Vide spent the last four years playing basketball in Madrid, Spain.
BRUINS IN SPAIN
UCLA's program spent nine days in Spain (Aug. 21-30) as part of an overseas trip in the summer. The Bruins visited three cities – Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona – and played one game against a Spanish team at each of those three destinations. UCLA defeated all-star teams in Madrid and Valencia, respectively, before losing to a professional team in the ACB League while visiting Barcelona. Lazar Stefanovic averaged a team-leading 16.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game through the Bruins' three contests. Stefanovic shot 44.7% from the field and was 13-for-14 at the free throw line in Spain.
FAMILIAR WITH THE PAC-12
Junior Lazar Stefanovic transferred to UCLA in the summer after having spent his first two seasons at the University of Utah, in the Pac-12 Conference. Stefanovic, listed at 6-foot-7 and 190 pounds, grew up in Belgrade, Serbia, before traveling to Salt Lake City for college. In two seasons at Utah, Stefanovic averaged 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 63 total games. Last year, Stefanovic averaged 10.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 32 games at Utah (making 15 starts). He ranked among the top 15 leaders in the Pac-12 in 3-point field goal percentage last year (35.9%).
NOTES ON PAULEY PAVILION
This marks the 58th basketball season in which UCLA has played in Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins' arena opened in time for the 1965-66 basketball season. The first game in Pauley Pavilion took place on Dec. 3, 1965, as No. 1 UCLA took down Ohio State, 92-66. The Bruins spent 47 consecutive seasons in Pauley Pavilion before the venue was closed for an 18-month renovation. UCLA hosted 18 home games during the 2011-12 season at two venues in Southern California (14 games at the Los Angeles Sports Arena and four games at the Honda Center in Anaheim).
– UCLA went 17-0 at home in 2022-23 and went 14-1 in 15 home games in 2021-22. The Bruins won their final eight home games in 2021-22 and have now strung together 26 consecutive home wins. UCLA has won its last 26 home games, which stands as the longest active home winning streak in the nation. UCLA's most recent home loss took place in overtime against Oregon (84-81) on Jan. 13, 2022. Since taking over as the Bruins' head coach in April of 2019, Mick Cronin has led the Bruins to a 56-6 record in 62 total home games. The Bruins last had a winning streak of 25 home games back in 2006-07 (and that streak ended at 25 wins in Dec. 2007).
– UCLA's perfect home record in 2022-23 (going 17-0) marked the Bruins' 11th season in Pauley Pavilion with an undefeated home tally. The Bruins last had an undefeated home mark in 2006-07, going 16-0. UCLA's 1995 NCAA title-winning team went 15-0 at home. Prior to the 1994-95 campaign, the Bruins had not gone undefeated at home since five consecutive undefeated home seasons from 1970-71 through 1974-75.
– The Bruins' 26-game home winning streak marks the longest at UCLA since registering a program-record 98-game home winning streak in the 1970s. The Bruins won 98 straight home games from Dec. 4, 1970, through Feb. 19, 1976. UCLA had a 25-game winning streak in 2006 and 2007 and won 23 consecutive games from Feb. 1994 through Jan. 1996 (includes one game that California later forfeited). The Bruins had a 20-game winning streak from Nov. 1981 through Jan. 1983.
– With the COVID-19 pandemic prompting teams to close arenas to fans, none of UCLA's home games in 2020-21 were played in front of a crowd. Likewise, three home games in January of 2022 were played before no fans (arena was limited to players' family members only). UCLA has won its last 37 home contests with fans present in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom (last home loss with fans, was against Stanford on Jan. 15, 2020, by a 74-59 margin).
ROAD WARRIORS
Last season, UCLA went 14-6 in 20 road and neutral-site contests. The Bruins closed the season having won eight of their last 10 road and neutral-site games. Through 20 games played away from home, Jaime Jaquez Jr. averaged a team-leading 17.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. Since the start of UCLA's 2021-22 season, the Bruins have gone 27-13 in games that were played away from home. In 2021-22, the Bruins went 13-7 in 20 road and neutral-site contests.
SEASON OPENERS
– Including this season's win, UCLA has gone 4-1 in season-opening games under head coach Mick Cronin
– Last season, the Bruins cruised past Sacramento State in their season-opening contest, 76-50.
– Through 21 seasons as a head coach, Mick Cronin has led his teams to a 17-4 record in season openers.
UCLA IN PAC-12 PLAY
– Over the past three seasons, UCLA has compiled a 46-13 mark in the Pac-12.
– The Bruins went 13-6 in league play in 2020-21, 15-5 in 2021-22 and 18-2 last season to win the conference title.
– UCLA has won 34 of its last 36 Pac-12 home games (lost to USC in March of 2021 and to Oregon in Jan. of 2022).
REACHING THE 20-WIN PLATEAU
– The Bruins have won at least 20 games in 54 seasons (last season, UCLA tallied win No. 20 at Oregon State on Feb. 9).
– UCLA's program has won at least 20 contests in 46 of the past 57 seasons (1967 through 2023).
– The Bruins won at least 20 games in 17 consecutive seasons from 1966-67 through 1982-83.
– UCLA has won 20 (or more) games in three consecutive seasons for the first time since 2013, 2014 and 2015.
LEADING THE WAY
– Bruins' head coach Mick Cronin has guided the program to an 100-36 overall record through four seasons.
– Coach Cronin was named as one of 10 semifinalists for last season's Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year Award.
– Coach Cronin has led his teams to at least 20 wins in 14 of his 20 previous seasons as a college head coach.
– Coach Cronin's teams have averaged 25.7 victories per season over the last 13 years (2010-11 through 2022-23).
THREE-POINT STREAK
– The Bruins have made at least one 3-pointer in their last 791 consecutive games.
– The 3-point streak began after the Bruins went 0-for-14 from 3-point range in a 78-63 loss at No. 2 Stanford (2/3/00).
– UCLA's single-game 3-point record stands at 19 (19-for-31) in a 104-89 victory at Colorado on Jan. 12, 2017.
AFTER 136 GAMES
Bruins' head coach Mick Cronin has recorded 99 wins through his first four seasons (and through 136 games). Only Cronin and former head coach Jim Harrick had won 100 contests through their first 136 games as the Bruins' head coach. Cronin has guided the Bruins to an 100-36 record through four-plus years in Westwood. Over the past three seasons, UCLA has gone 9-3 in the NCAA Tournament with a trip to the Final Four in 2021.
STANDING TALL
The Bruins' 15-man roster includes includes five student-athletes who measure at least 6-foot-9-inches tall. Freshman center Aday Mara, from Zaragoza, Spain, stands at 7 feet and 3 inches. During the Bruins' 2018-19 season, then-freshman Moses Brown measured at 7-foot-1 (Brown now plays for the Portland Trail Blazers). Mara becomes the Bruins' tallest player since the late Mike Lanier (7-foot-7, 310 pounds) competed as a reserve center for the Bruins in 1991-92 and 1992-93. Adem Bona, Kenneth Nwuba and Devin Williams are all 6-foot-10, while Berke Buyuktuncel is 6-foot-9.
REPRESENTING MULTIPLE COUNTRIES
UCLA's roster includes student-athletes who grew up in seven different countries, including the United States. The Bruins' nation-by-nation breakdown includes eight players from the United States, two from Nigeria (Adem Bona, Kenneth Nwuba), one from France (Ilane Fibleuil), one from Spain (Aday Mara), one from Turkey (Berke Buyuktuncel), one from Slovenia (Jan Vide) and one from Serbia (Lazar Stefanovic). Bona grew up in Nigeria before moving to Turkey at the age of 13.
