UCLA
3-1,0-0Big Ten
Lehigh
0-4,0-0Patriot
UCLA Men's Basketball Cruises Past Lehigh, 85-45
November 15, 2024 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA men's basketball team beat Lehigh 85-45 on Friday night behind strong defensive play and a career-high 16 points from Aday Mara, inside Pauley Pavilion, presented by Wescom.
UCLA (3-1) was powered by its low-post offense and lockdown defense that limited Lehigh (0-4) to just 16 points in the first half. That marked the Bruins' fewest points allowed in the opening half since a 78-43 win over California (in Pauley Pavilion) on Feb. 18, 2023, when UCLA held the Golden Bears to 15 first-half points. Last season, UCLA limited Arizona State to 16 points in the second half in the Bruins' final regular-season contest (March 9, 2024).
Against Lehigh on Friday evening, the Bruins registered a 47-18 rebounding advantage (+29). In addition, four UCLA players scored in double figures, including Mara. Eric Dailey Jr. had a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, Tyler Bilodeau totaled 15 points and Sebastian Mack tallied 10 points.
"Our offense was much more efficient tonight," said Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. "The game plan was to go inside, we thought we had a distinct advantage on the interior, and to take care of the ball at all costs. We cut our turnovers down to eight, and we went inside for 46 points in the paint and got to the line 26 times."
Dailey Jr. finished 6-for-11 from the field (17 points, 10 rebounds) to secure his first double-double of the season and his third career double-double. Mara had an efficient shooting night, going 7-for-8 from the field (including four dunks). Bilodeau logged his third game with at least 10 points in four contests this season.
Kobe Johnson finished the game with four points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals.
In a first half full of runs, UCLA used a 28-3 scoring run over the final 10 minutes of the half to secure a 44-16 halftime cushion. The Bruins held Lehigh scoreless for a near-eight-minute stretch and didn't allow a basket by Leigh over the final 10 minutes and 20 seconds in the first half.
With 3:20 remaining in the first half, Mara came off the bench and added another six points for the Bruins. Bilodeau led all scorers with 11 points in the half. Johnson had all eight of his rebounds on Friday evening in the first half.
UCLA opened Friday's contest on an 11-3 scoring run, capped by a Skyy Clark triple. Dailey Jr. and Mack added a pair of scores, putting the Bruins up 15-3 with 13:31 to go in the half. The visiting Mountain Hawks responded with their first basket in over five minutes, cutting UCLA's margin to 15-5. Lehigh's ensuing 9-0 scoring run pulled the Mountain Hawks to within 15-13 of the Bruins at the 10:34 mark.
Bilodeau stopped the nearly four-minute scoring drought for the Bruins when he sank both foul shots, putting the Bruins up 17-13, and added another tough bucket down low to put as part of six early points.
In the second half, UCLA pushed the lead to 31 points, at 62-31, with 10:41 remaining in the half courtesy of a Mara slam. Mara pushed UCLA's advantage up to a game-best 40 points (at 79-39) with 4:32 left in regulation. He capped his 16-point performance with his seventh bucket of the night, putting UCLA ahead by the final 84-45 margin with 26 seconds left.
The Bruins will continue their homestand against Idaho State on Wednesday, Nov. 20, inside Pauley Pavilion. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. PT. The Bruins' game, played as part of the Bruin Classic, will be televised live on the Big Ten Network. UCLA is also scheduled to host Cal State Fullerton on Friday, Nov. 22 (at 7 p.m. PT).
Game Notes: Lazar Stefanovic played in his 100th career game (37 games at UCLA, 63 at Utah) … the Bruins committed a season-low eight turnovers on Friday (had nine turnovers in the season opener on Nov. 4) … UCLA totaled a season-best 47 rebounds, the most since recording 55 rebounds in a win over Chaminade University last season (Nov. 21, 2023, in Honolulu) … the Bruins tied their season high in points scored (85, also in the season opener on Nov. 4) … UCLA limited Lehigh to 16 points in the first half on five made shots (three 2-pointers, and two 3-pointers) … Eric Dailey Jr. logged his third career double-double and finished one rebound shy of his career high of 11 rebounds … UCLA has shot 80.9 percent from the free throw line in the past two games (38-for-47, against Boston University and Lehigh).
