University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
Cal State L.A. (exhibition)
No. 22 Men's Basketball Hosts Exhibition Game on Wednesday
October 27, 2024 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – UCLA will host an exhibition game against Cal State L.A. on Wednesday evening (7 p.m., PT). The Bruins' game will be streamed live by B1G+ (subscription streaming platform). UCLA will begin its 31-game regular-season schedule on Monday, Nov. 4, as the Bruins will host Rider University that evening.
GAME INFORMATION
Venue: Pauley Pavilion
Capacity: 13,800
Tipoff Time: 7:01 p.m. (PT)
Broadcast Network: B1G+
Broadcasters: Nick Koop (play-by-play), Giordano Camera (analyst)
UCLA's Audio Stream: via uclabruins.com
Audio Broadcasters: Josh Lewin (play-by-play), Tracy Murray (analyst)
UCLA'S TICKET INFORMATION
Single-game tickets for all of the Bruins' home non-conference games, plus the conference matchup against Washington (Dec. 3, 2024), are now on sale. Season ticket packages for UCLA's upcoming men's basketball season are now available. Fans can call (310) 206-5991 or email tickets@athletics.ucla.edu for more information.
UCLA students, with a valid Bruin Card, can earn free admission to this Wednesday's exhibition game. UCLA faculty and staff members can purchase a discounted ticket at the Box Office on gameday with a valid UCLA ID. In addition, be sure to check out all of the game themes and upcoming promotions as UCLA men's basketball gets ready to tip-off the 2024-25 season.
UCLA ON B1G+
This Wednesday evening's exhibition game will air on B1G+, the Big Ten Network's subscription streaming platform, which offers access to nearly 2,500 events annually. The Bruins will be streamed on B1G+ at least twice this season (including Wednesday's game). B1G+ subscriptions can be purchased directly at www.bigtenplus.com. Fans can subscribe to B1G+ with an annual pass ($89.99 per year) or a monthly pass ($12.99). B1G+ subscriptions can also be purchased via in-app purchase in B1G+ apps.
Q-AND-A WITH COACH CRONIN
Bruins' head coach Mick Cronin, now in his sixth season at UCLA, speaks about the team's offseason workouts, the 2024-25 roster and expectations for the upcoming men's basketball season in a 20-minute Q-and-A video (link here).
CATCHING UP ON THE BRUINS
– UCLA opens its 106th basketball season this fall, the sixth year with head coach Mick Cronin at the helm.
– This Wednesday night's contest will mark the Bruins' only exhibition game prior to the season opener (Monday, Nov. 4).
– Six primary contributors from last season's UCLA team have returned this season.
– The Bruins have added nine incoming players this season – six transfer students and three freshmen.
– UCLA has eight players who averaged at least 10.0 points per game last season for their college programs.
– As head coach, Mick Cronin has led UCLA to a 115-53 record over the previous five seasons.
– UCLA has moved into the Big Ten Conference, along with former Pac-12 programs USC, Oregon and Washington.
WHO'S BACK?
The six returning contributors from last season's UCLA squad include senior Lazar Stefanovic, junior Dylan Andrews and sophomores Sebastian Mack, Aday Mara, Brandon Williams and Devin Williams. Andrews concluded the 2023-24 season as the Bruins' leader in scoring (12.9 ppg) and assists (119), while Stefanovic finished the year as the team's leading rebounder (202 rebounds, 6.1 rpg). Mack led the Bruins in free throws made (125) and free throw attempts (172), ending his freshman campaign ranking No. 5 in the Pac-12 Conference in free throw attempts.
WELCOME TO WESTWOOD
Two of the six incoming UCLA transfers competed in the Pac-12 last season – senior Kobe Johnson (USC) and junior Tyler Bilodeau (Oregon State). The other four transfers include senior guard Dominick Harris (from LMU), juniors Skyy Clark (from Louisville) and William Kyle III (from South Dakota State), and sophomore Eric Dailey Jr. (from Oklahoma State). Bilodeau (32 games), Dailey Jr. (32), Johnson (31), and Kyle III (35) each played in at least 30 games for their respective college programs last season. Clark appeared in 29 games at Louisville, while Harris saw action in 24 games with Loyola Marymount.
FRESHMEN ARRIVAL
UCLA's three incoming freshmen include Eric Freeny (Corona, Calif.), Christian Horry (La Cañada, Calif.) and Trent Perry (West Covina, Calif.). Perry teamed with Horry at Harvard-Westlake School, while Freeny excelled over the past four seasons at Centennial High School (Corona, Calif.). Perry averaged 18.6 points and 6.1 rebounds last season at Harvard-Westlake, leading the Wolverines to the 2024 CIF Southern Section Open Division crown. In addition, Perry secured McDonald's All-America honors as a senior. Freeny averaged 19.0 points per game last season, shooting 52 percent from the field.
SEASON OPENER
The Bruins will open their regular-season schedule against Rider University on Monday, Nov. 4. Last season, Rider went 15-17 overall and compiled a 12-8 record in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Under sixth-year UCLA head coach Mick Cronin, the Bruins have gone 4-1 in the past five seasons in season-opening games. Last year, the Bruins opened their season with a 75-44 win over Saint Francis in Pauley Pavilion. UCLA's only season-opening loss in that stretch took place during the pandemic-affected 2020-21 season (the Bruins lost at San Diego State, 73-58, with no fans in the arena).
MORE ON COACH CRONIN
Mick Cronin has entered his sixth season as the Bruins' head coach (The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach). Now entering his 22nd season as a college head coach, Coach Cronin has guided UCLA's program to a 115-53 overall record of the past five years. He led the Bruins to a 68-29 record in the Pac-12 Conference over the last five years. UCLA's 31 wins in 2022-23 were the most by any Bruins' team since UCLA logged a 31-5 overall record in 2016-17. This season, Coach Cronin will be leading the Bruins in their first year playing in the Big Ten Conference.
PRESEASON PROJECTIONS
The Bruins have been ranked No. 22 in the preseason Associated Press (AP) and USA Today Coaches polls. Last season, UCLA opened the year were No. 25 in the preseason USA Today Coaches poll. In the fall of 2022, UCLA ranked No. 8 in the preseason AP poll. The annual Lindy's Magazine's "top 40" rankings have pegged the Bruins in the No. 19 slot. In addition, Lindy's Magazine has slotted UCLA at No. 3 in the 18-team Big Ten Conference (behind Indiana and Purdue, respectively).
VETERAN PRESENCE
Now a junior on UCLA's roster, Dylan Andrews ranked No. 5 in the Pac-12 last season in assists per game (3.7) and No. 6 in assist-turnover ratio (1.92). He totaled 119 assists and 62 turnovers in 23 games, scoring double figures in 20 games. Andrews was particularly impressive down the stretch for UCLA, as a sophomore (2023-24). He averaged 17.1 points per game and shot 43.9 percent overall, and 40.8 percent from 3-point distance (29-of-71) in the Bruins' final 14 games. Andrews scored a career-high 31 points against Oregon State in the Pac-12 Tournament (March 13, 2024).
