LOS ANGELES – The Bruins will host Oregon on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. With just 10 regular-season games remaining, the Bruins will play six of those contests at home. This Saturday's game against Oregon will be nationally televised on ESPN2. UCLA leads the all-time series against Oregon, 93-41. As of late, the Bruins have won four of their last five games after having dropped eight games through a nine-game stretch in December and January. The Bruins went 3-0 against Oregon last season, including a win in the Pac-12 Tournament. Earlier this season (Dec. 30), UCLA dropped a 64-59 decision to the Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena during the first weekend of Pac-12 play.
 
GAME INFORMATION
Venue: Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom
Capacity: 13,800
Tipoff Time: 7:05 p.m. (PT)
Television: ESPN2
TV Talent: Roxy Bernstein (play-by-play), Corey Williams (analyst)
Radio Broadcast (UCLA Sports Network): AM 570
Radio Talent: Josh Lewin (play-by-play), Tracy Murray (analyst)
SIRIUS XM: SiriusXM 391 and on the SXM App
 
LAST GAME, VERSUS OREGON
The Bruins led by five points in the second half (42-37, at the 15:17 mark) before Oregon outscored UCLA by a 27-17 margin the rest of the way, in the Ducks' 64-59 win on Saturday, Dec. 30. Adem Bona totaled a team-leading 15 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks in the five-point loss at Matthew Knight Arena.
 
THURSDAY NIGHT'S WIN
Dylan Andrews and Adem Bona each scored a team-leading 18 points in UCLA's 71-63 win against Oregon State on Thursday night. The Bruins swept the regular-season series against Oregon State, having taken down the Beavers up in Corvallis by a 69-62 margin on Dec. 28, 2023. UCLA outscored Oregon State by a 16-9 tally over the game's final six minutes. Andrews totaled 13 of his 18 points in the second half, knocking down 4 of 9 shots and going a perfect 4-for-4 at the free throw line in the second half against the Beavers. Bona scored 14 of his 18 points in the first half.
 
UCLA DOWNS USC
Dylan Andrews scored a team-leading 20 points to lead UCLA past USC, 65-50, before a crowd of 10,300 at the Galen Center last Saturday (in career win No. 2,000 for UCLA's program). The Bruins recorded their fourth win in the last five meetings against USC, logging their first win at the Galen Center since March 3, 2018 (snapping a streak of five straight losses at USC). The Trojans scored a season-low 50 points, the fewest points scored by USC since losing at Washington, 72-40, on Jan. 5, 2020. UCLA limited USC to its fewest points in a home game since Feb. 1, 2015 (lost to Utah, 67-39).
 
LAZAR IN THE LAST FIVE
Lazar Stefanovic has averaged 10.8 points per game but has registered averages of 16.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in the Bruins' last five games. In addition, Stefanovic has shot 43.1 percent (22-for-51) from the field in the last five contests and 46.4 percent from 3-point distance (13-for-28). He ranks second among all Pac-12 players in free throw percentage (87.1%) and has made 25 of 27 free throws in UCLA's last five contests (92.6%). He scored 15 points in UCLA's 71-63 win against Oregon State on Thursday, connecting on 6 of 14 shots and 3 of 8 attempts from 3-point distance.
 
65 OR FEWER POINTS
The Bruins have held their opposition to 65 points or fewer in 12 of 21 contests this season, posting a 9-3 record in those games. UCLA has surrendered a Pac-12-leading 63.8 points per game this season (65.8 points per game in 10 Pac-12 games). Last season, the Bruins limited the opposition to 65 points or fewer in 27 of their 37 total games, compiling a 25-2 record in those contests. UCLA has allowed 50 points or fewer in four games this season (versus Saint Francis, Lafayette and Chaminade in non-conference games in November, and at crosstown rival USC on Saturday, Jan. 27).
 
SCORING DEFENSE
Through games played on Thursday, Feb. 1, the Bruins ranked No. 16 in the country and first in the Pac-12 in fewest points allowed per game (63.8 ppg, through 21 games). UCLA's field goal percentage defense ranked No. 29, nationally, and second in the Pac-12 (40.5%). Under fifth-year head coach Mick Cronin, UCLA's 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). The Bruins have allowed fewer than 70 points in 46 of their last 56 games, going 39-7 in those 46 contests since the start of the 2022-23 season.
 
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 three true freshmen who will not turn 19 years old until later this year (Aday Mara, Ilane Fibleuil and Brandon Williams). The Bruins' program added eight new faces last summer, including seven true freshmen and one transfer, junior Lazar Stefanovic (from Belgrade, Serbia, who transferred to UCLA from the University of Utah).
 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY
The Bruins are believed to have one of the top-10-youngest teams in Division I basketball this season (by age). UCLA's average age at the start of the season was approximately 20 years and one month. UCLA freshman Brandon Williams is believed to be the third-youngest Division I player this season.
 
BLOCKED SHOTS LEADERBOARD
Sophomore Adem Bona (12.4 ppg, 6.1 rpg) has totaled 97 blocks in 54 career games (1.8 per game). Bona has moved into a tie for the No. 9 spot on UCLA's all-time blocks list (tied with Rodney Zimmerman). Jelani McCoy (1996-98) established the program's career record with 188 blocks during his three-year collegiate career. Bona stands just five blocks away from moving into the No. 6 position on the Bruins' all-time top 10 blocks list. Through Thursday's games, Bona ranked No. 39 in the nation with 40 blocks this season.
 
FROM LONG DISTANCE
Sophomore Will McClendon has shot a team-leading 40.7 percent from 3-point distance (22-for-54) through 21 games. The 6-foot-3 guard from Las Vegas, Nev., has averaged 4.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists this season. McClendon missed UCLA's 2021-22 season recovering from a torn ACL (right knee). In total, 68.0 percent of McClendon's scoring this year has come from beyond the 3-point arc. After opening the year 5 of 15 from 3-point range (33.3%), he has shot 45.9 percent from long distance in UCLA's past 16 games (17-for-37). He has made 13 of 17 free throw attempts (76.5%).
 
3-POINTERS, AS A TEAM
UCLA has shot 31.0 percent from 3-point range. The 2019-20 team shot 32.3 percent, the lowest single-season 3-point percentage by any UCLA team (NCAA adopted the 3-point arc in 1986-87). UCLA is averaging 4.95 made threes per game, the lowest per-game average since 2003-04 (4.54 per game). In addition, the 16.0 attempts per game are the fewest since 2012-13 (14.7 per game). Last season, UCLA averaged 6.1 made threes per game and took 17.6 attempts per game.
 
UCLA'S LEADING SCORER
Sebastian Mack has averaged a team-leading 13.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 21 games. The 6-foot-3 freshman guard from Chicago, Ill., has twice secured Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors. He ranks fourth among all Pac-12 players in most free throws made (90-for-119), heading into Saturday's Pac-12 contests. In addition, Mack ranked No. 7 in the Pac-12 in steals per game (1.6 spg). He has scored in double figures in 13 games during his freshman season and recorded a team-leading 21 points in a 77-71 loss at No. 12 Arizona on Saturday, Jan. 20.
 
HOME CONTESTS
The Bruins have gone 6-4 in 10 home contests this season, shooting 42.5 percent from the field and 29.8 percent from beyond the 3-point arc. Adem Bona has averaged 14.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 10 home games. The sophomore forward/center has shot 65.0 percent overall in the Bruins' 10 home contests. UCLA has limited the opposition to 40.2 percent shooting from the field in 10 home games (and 31.6 percent shooting from beyond the 3-point line). In addition, the Bruins are averaging 67.3 points per game at home, while limiting the opposition to 61.1 points per contest.
 
NOTES ON PAULEY PAVILION
This marks the 58th season in which UCLA has played in Pauley Pavilion. The arena opened in time for the 1965-66 basketball campaign. The first game in Pauley Pavilion took place on Dec. 3, 1965, as No. 1 UCLA took down Ohio State (92-66). UCLA spent 47 seasons in Pauley before the venue was closed for an 18-month renovation. UCLA hosted 18 home games in 2011-12 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena (14 games) and the Honda Center in Anaheim (four games).
 
CSUN snapped UCLA's 29-home-game winning streak earlier this season (CSUN won, 76-72, on Dec. 19, 2023). Prior to that loss, UCLA had not lost at home since Jan. 13, 2022 (an 84-81 overtime loss to Oregon). UCLA's 29-game home streak had been the longest active streak in the country. Since taking over as UCLA's head coach prior to the 2019-20 season, Mick Cronin has guided the Bruins to a 61-10 record in 71 home games (85.9% win percentage).
 
The Bruins' 29-game home winning streak had marked the longest such streak 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).
 
RECENT HISTORY
The Bruins have advanced to the NCAA Tournament in each of the past three seasons. UCLA secured its 19th NCAA Final Four appearance in 2021, earning a No. 11-seed in the 68-team field and advancing from the First Four to the Final Four. Along the way, the Bruins registered victories over Michigan State, BYU, Abilene Christian, Alabama and Michigan. 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.
 
LEADING THE WAY
Head coach Mick Cronin has guided the program to an overall mark of 109-47 (midway through his fifth year at UCLA). Over the past three seasons, Coach Cronin has led UCLA to a 9-3 record in three NCAA Tournament appearances. Coach Cronin earned Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors in 2020 (his first year at UCLA) and 2023 (his fourth year) and was named as one of 10 semifinalists for last season's Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year Award. His teams have recorded at least 20 wins in 14 of his 20 previous seasons. Coach Cronin's teams have averaged 25.7 victories per season over the last 13 years (2010-11 through 2022-23). In addition, Coach Cronin has twice led his teams to 31 victories (last season at UCLA, and in 2017-18 at Cincinnati).
 
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES ON UCLA
– UCLA's bench has outscored the opposition's bench in 12 of 21 games this season (UCLA has gone 8-4 in those 12 contests) ... the Bruins' bench combined for 22 points in a 68-66 victory at Arizona State on Wednesday, Jan. 17.
 
– The Bruins have played games along the East Coast in three consecutive seasons (at Philadelphia, to face Villanova earlier this year) ... at Maryland and in New York City last season, and in Philadelphia for the NCAA Tournament in March 2022.
 
– The Bruins have outrebounded the opposition in 14 of 21 games (8-6 record in those 14 contests) ... UCLA recorded a season-high 55 rebounds (including 17 offensive boards) in a win over Chaminade in Honolulu on Tuesday, Nov. 21.
 
– Prior to this season, UCLA had registered a 46-13 record in Pac-12 play the previous three years ... last year, UCLA went 18-2 in Pac-12 play, earning its first regular-season conference title since 2013 (under then-head coach Ben Howland).
 
– The Bruins have won 36 of their last 40 home Pac-12 contests, with the losses taking place against USC (March 2021), Oregon in overtime (Jan. 2022), Stanford (Jan. 2023) and California (Jan. 2023).
 
– Maryland's Jahmir Young registered 37 points against UCLA on Dec. 22, 2023, becoming the first player to score at least 37 points in a game against UCLA since De'Aaron Fox totaled 39 for Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament (March 24, 2017).
 
STANDING TALL
UCLA's 15-man roster includes five players who stand 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.