UCLA
CSUN
Men's Basketball Returns Home to Host CSUN on Tuesday
December 18, 2023 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES โ The UCLA men's basketball team will face CSUN on Tuesday night in a nonconference game in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Game time is 7 p.m. (PT). The Bruins' home game will be televised by the Pac-12 Network, with J.B. Long and Don MacLean calling the action.
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Tuesday's game will be the first of two UCLA home contests this week. In addition, the Bruins will host Maryland on Friday evening in Pauley Pavilion (6 p.m., PT). While UCLA only had two games over the previous two weeks, Tuesday night's showdown against CSUN will mark the Bruins' first home game since Thursday, Nov. 30 (UCLA defeated UC Riverside, 66-65). This will be UCLA's second home contest in a 34-day span (from Nov. 16 through Dec. 19). UCLA has gone 9-1 in the all-time series against CSUN and 7-2 in the all-time series versus Maryland.
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TUESDAY'S GAME INFORMATION
Venue: Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom
Capacity: 13,800
Tipoff Time: 7:05 p.m. (PT)
Television: Pac-12 Network
TV Talent: J.B. Long (play-by-play), Don MacLean (analyst)
Radio Broadcast (UCLA Sports Network): AM 570
Radio Talent: Josh Lewin (play-by-play), Tracy Murray (analyst)
SIRIUS XM: SiriusXM 373 and on the SXM App
TICKET INFORMATION
Information about UCLA's ticket packages and single-game ticket sales is available online. Fans can call (310) 206-5991 or emailย tickets@athletics.ucla.eduย for more information about tickets to UCLA men's basketball games. Additional information about season parking permits can be accessed here.ย UCLA faculty and staff members can secure a five-dollar ticket for this Tuesday evening's game between the Bruins and CSUN. Please show proper UCLA I.D. at the Pauley Pavilion ticket window on the day of the game to purchase at this discounted rate.
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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.
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HISTORY VERSUS THE MATADORS
Seven Bruins scored in double figures, led by Isaac Hamilton's 22 points, when UCLA last faced CSUN. The Bruins recorded an 102-87 win against the Matadors in Pauley Pavilion in the second game of the season for both programs, back on Nov. 13, 2016. UCLA shot nearly 80 percent from the free throw line that night, going 31-for-39 at the free throw stripe. The Bruins also took on CSUN during the 2015-16 season.
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THE LAST TIME OUT
UCLA dropped a 67-60 decision to Ohio State in Atlanta (State Farm Arena) last Saturday, playing in the annual CBS Sports Classic. The Bruins led the contest, 41-37, with 10:40 to play in regulation. Ohio State outscored the Bruins by a 30-19 margin over the game's final 10:30. UCLA has lost back-to-back games for the first time since Jan. 21 (at Arizona) and Jan. 26 (at USC) in Pac-12 play last season. The Bruins have not absorbed three consecutive losses since a four-game losing streak in Feb. and March of 2021, entering that year's NCAA Tournament in Indiana (UCLA advanced to the Final Four).
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LATER IN THE WEEK
Following Tuesday's game against CSUN, UCLA will host Maryland on Friday, Dec. 22, in the return contest of a home-and-home series. Game time on Friday in Pauley Pavilion is 6 p.m. (PT). Last season, UCLA secured an 87-60 victory over Maryland at the Xfinity Center (Dec. 14, 2022) in what was the Terrapins' only home loss of the season. Maryland concluded its home schedule in 2022-23 with a 16-1 record. UCLA has gone 7-2 in the all-time series with Maryland and has only hosted the Terrapins twice, with both of those games taking place in Pauley Pavilion (Dec. 1973, Dec. 1981).
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IN THE HISTORY BOOK
Former UCLA standout Bill Walton totaled 18 points, 27 rebounds and four assists as the Bruins defeated Maryland, 65-64, in the first-ever showdown between the two schools on Dec. 1, 1973 (the second game of Walton's senior season). Walton's 27 rebounds in the game stands as the single-game UCLA record in Pauley Pavilion. Willie Naulls totaled a single-game school-record 28 rebounds against Arizona State on Jan. 28, 1956.
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BRUINS' YOUTH MOVEMENT
UCLA's 15-man roster includes seven true freshmen, one redshirt freshman (Jack Seidler), three true sophomores and one redshirt sophomore (Will McClendon). In all, the Bruins have 12 players in their first or second seasons on the court. In addition, the Bruins have four true freshmen who will not turn 19 years old until 2024 (Jan Vide, Aday Mara, Ilane Fibleuil and Brandon Williams). The Bruins' program added eight new faces in the summer โ seven true freshmen and one transfer, junior Lazar Stefanovic (from Belgrade, Serbia, transferring from the University of Utah).
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LEADING REBOUNDERS
Sophomore Adem Bona (13.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg) and junior Lazar Stefanovic (10.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg) enter the week as two of the Pac-12 Conference's 15-leading rebounders. Bona has registered 6.3 rebounds per game, which ranked No. 12 among all Pac-12 players through Saturday, Dec. 16. He ranked 11th in the conference in offensive rebounds per game. Stefanovic has recorded 6.2 rebounds per game (through nine contests), which is more than double his prior career average of 2.9-rpg over 63 career contests while at Utah (2021-22, 2022-23). Last season, Stefanovic averaged 3.0 rebounds per game.
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RECENT HISTORY
UCLA's 2022-23 squad had two players who averaged at least six rebounds per game (Jaime Jaquez Jr. at 8.2 rpg, and Jaylen Clark at 6.0 rpg). The 2021-22 team did not have any players who logged at least six boards per game. Of players to compete in at least half the team's contests back in 2020-21, only then-sophomore Jaime Jaquez Jr. eclipsed the 6.0 rebounds-per-game benchmark that year (Jaquez Jr. averaged 6.1 rpg).
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SCORING DEFENSE
Through games played on Saturday, Dec. 16, the Bruins ranked No. 7 in the country and first in the Pac-12 in fewest points allowed per game (59.7 ppg, through nine games). UCLA's field goal percentage defense ranked No. 11, nationally, and No. 2 in the Pac-12 (37.5%, 178-for-475). Under fifth-year UCLA head coach Mick Cronin, the Bruins' scoring defense ranked No. 41 in the nation in 2021-22 (at 64.5 ppg) and No. 7 in the country last season (at 60.7 ppg). UCLA has allowed fewer than 70 points in 39 of their last 46 games, going 34-5 in those 39 contests (since the start of the 2022-23 season).
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DIALED IN FROM LONG DISTANCE
Sophomore Will McClendon ranked No. 5 among all Pac-12 players in 3-point field goal percentage (46.2%), through games played on Saturday, Dec. 16. McClendon, who missed the 2021-22 season recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee, has made 12 of 26 attempts from 3-point distance, through nine contests this season. McClendon has connect on 7 of 11 attempts from long distance in the team's last three games (against UC Riverside, Villanova and Ohio State). McClendon has averaged 5.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in nearly 22 minutes per contest.
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BLOCKED SHOTS
Sophomore Adem Bona (13.0 ppg) has totaled 71 blocks through 42 contests at UCLA. He stands just 23 blocks shy of entering the Bruins' career top-10 leaderboard in that category. Tony Parker (2013-16) registered 94 blocks in his four-year career (10th place), and Ed O'Bannon (1992-95) finished with 95 blocks en route to leading UCLA to the 1995 NCAA Championship (ninth place on that list). Jelani McCoy (1996-98) set the program's career record with 188 blocks during his three-year collegiate career. Bona tallied a season-high four blocks in the season opener against Saint Francis (Nov. 6).
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MORE ON SEBASTIAN MACK
Freshman Sebastian Mack has averaged 13.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in all nine games. Three weeks ago, Mack secured Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors after averaging a team-leading 19.0 points in three games in the Maui Invitational (Nov. 20-22). Mack totaled 25 points in a 71-69 loss to No. 4 Marquette (Nov. 20), shooting a perfect 13-for-13 at the free throw line. That 13-for-13 effort marked UCLA's first perfect free throw display by a freshman (at least 10 attempts), since Jordan Adams was 16-for-16 off the bench in UCLA's 80-79 win over UC Irvine on Nov. 13, 2012.
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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).
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โ 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 won their last 29 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 head coach in April of 2019, Mick Cronin has led UCLA to a 59-6 record in 64 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).
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โ 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.
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โ The Bruins' 29-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.
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โ 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 40 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).
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โ The Bruins have won their last 19 consecutive nonconference home games, a streak dating back to the start of the 2020-21 basketball season. UCLA went 7-0 in nonconference home contests last season and 5-0 in those games in 2021-22. The Bruins played just three nonconference home games during the pandemic-altered 2020-21 season, opening their home schedule with a 78-52 win over Seattle in Pauley Pavilion on Dec. 3, 2020.
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RECENT HISTORY
โ UCLA has advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of the past three seasons. The Bruins earned their 19th NCAA Final Four appearance 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 championships.
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โ 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 an 104-40 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.
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ON THE EAST COAST
UCLA's game in Philadelphia, against Villanova (Saturday, Dec. 9), marked the third consecutive season in which the Bruins traveled to the East Coast. In March 2022, No. 4-seed UCLA saw its season conclude with a 73-67 loss to No. 8-seed North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament (Sweet 16, Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center). Last season, UCLA won a pair of games at Maryland (87-60, on Dec. 14) and against Kentucky in New York City in the annual CBS Sports Classic (63-53, on Dec. 17). Prior to those trips, UCLA had not played on the East Coast since facing North Carolina in the CBS Sports Classic in Brooklyn (Barclays Center) on Dec. 19, 2015. UCLA also faced Ohio State this season in Atlanta (Saturday, Dec. 16).
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STANDING TALL
The Bruins' 15-man roster 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.
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BRUINS IN PAC-12 PLAY
Over the previous three basketball seasons, UCLA totaled a 46-13 mark in Pac-12 games. Last year, UCLA went 18-2 in Pac-12 play to capture the league's regular-season title for the first time since 2013 (under then-head coach Ben Howland). UCLA went 15-5 in the Pac-12 in 2021-22 and 13-6 in 2020-21. The Bruins have won 34 of their last 36 Pac-12 home games, with the two losses taking place against USC in March of 2021 and against Oregon in overtime in Jan. of 2022. UCLA will open Pac-12 play at Oregon State on Thursday, Dec. 28 (7 p.m., at OSU's Gill Coliseum in Corvallis, Ore.).
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