HENDERSON, Nev. — Tyler Bilodeau rose for a three-pointer that fell through the net while getting knocked to the court.
The UCLA forward and his team were on the verge of getting blown out midway through the second half in their first test of the season. If the Bruins were going to rally from a double-digit deficit, they needed to start here.
Bilodeau stepped to the free-throw line for what could have been a four-point play. He missed. Grabbing the rebound, he went back up for a putback. That also was off the mark.
Winding up face down on the court, Bilodeau pounded the hardwood with both hands and uttered an expletive.
UCLA guard Trent Perry, left, attempts to save a loose ball near New Mexico forward Mustapha Amzil Friday in Henderson, Nev.
(Ian Maule / Associated Press)
It was a sequence that symbolized a night of frustration for the Bruins.
Unable to get much of anything it wanted, No. 22 UCLA faltered across the board during a 72-64 loss to New Mexico on Friday night in the Las Vegas Hoopfest at Lee’s Family Forum.
Outside of Bilodeau, who was a fount of offense with 23 points on eight-for-20 shooting to go with 15 rebounds, the sloppy Bruins failed to reliably get baskets.
UCLA (1-1) shot just 36.4% to New Mexico’s 51% and compounded its lack of touch with 21 turnovers and especially cold shooting from long range, where the Bruins made just five of 23 shots (21.7%).
“It’s hard to beat Division II teams with 21 turnovers,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said.
What disappointed Cronin most was that his players didn’t heed his warning that they needed to match the assertiveness of a veteran team that played in the NCAA tournament last season and would be looking to make a statement against the Bruins.
“Kids grew up hearing about all the great players at UCLA and they are coming to play and we were not ready for their intensity,” Cronin said. “At the end of the day, that’s what they pay me for. We tried but they don’t listen, they did not listen and they learned the hard way. But ultimately I don’t blame them, blame the coaching staff — we’ve got to make sure they’re ready.”
Finally showing some toughness, the Bruins made one final push after two free throws from Bilodeau pulled them to within 68-59 with 4:28 left.
New Mexico guard Donovan Dent (2) blocks UCLA guard Eric Dailey Jr. (3) while center Nelly Junior Joseph (23) also pressures Dailey Friday in Henderson, Nev.
(Ian Maule / Associated Press)
A steal by UCLA guard Skyy Clark led to teammate William Kyle III getting hammered under the basket. But Kyle missed both free throws, Clark missed a contested layup on UCLA’s next possession while appearing to absorb contact, and New Mexico’s Ibrahima Sacko made a layup to extend the Lobos’ lead back to double digits.
Guard Donovan Dent finished with 17 points and eight assists to lead New Mexico (2-0) while committing an uncharacteristic nine turnovers. The Lobos won in large part by scoring 36 points in the paint and making 16 free throws.
Bilodeau did not get enough offensive help from his fellow starters — or anyone off the bench, for that matter. No other Bruin reached double figures in scoring. UCLA freshman guard Trent Perry made some heads-up plays on the way to eight points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals, but it wasn’t nearly enough.
All the trends were working against the Bruins early in the second half. Point guard Dylan Andrews committed his sixth turnover and headed to the bench. Forward Eric Dailey Jr. picked up his fourth foul and headed to the bench with his team down by 14 points.
“I think there’s just a lack of discipline throughout the whole team,” Bilodeau said, noting he contributed to the letdown with three turnovers. “I think we weren’t focused on the right things, just not tough enough physically and mentally out there, and so we weren’t ready for it.”
UCLA finally slowed New Mexico’s Nelly Junior Joseph, but only after he scored 14 of his 16 points in the first half. Joseph took turns scoring on Kyle, Bilodeau, Dailey and Aday Mara, with no defensive help coming over to combat the Lobos big man.
A defense that was supposed to be UCLA’s strength forced 24 turnovers, but the Bruins generated only 15 points off those turnovers, often giving the ball right back to New Mexico. Andrews and Sebastian Mack combined for nine turnovers.
“Dylan and Sebastian are throwing the ball away for layups, just giving it to them for layups,” Cronin said. “I told them guys, we were better than that last year when we had a lack of talent.”
UCLA guard Skyy Clark (55) shoots under pressure from New Mexico guard Tru Washington Friday in Henderson, Nev.
(Ian Maule / Associated Press)
Cronin imported six transfers as part of another offseason makeover, but it became apparent Friday that this is no quick fix.
“It’s good to play a game early like this, guys,” Cronin said. “Obviously, for me, to be able to assess where we’re at and what needs to happen, it’s, get a dose of reality.”
The truth is that UCLA has just one player — Kyle — who played in the NCAA tournament last season, and that was for South Dakota State. These Bruins must build winning habits if they intend to forge similar success.
“We’ve all got to come together and we’ve all got to really dig deep and just figure it out, you know?” said Bilodeau, whose teams went a combined 16 games under .500 in his two seasons at Oregon State. “None of us want to have years like we did last year; we’re at UCLA. It’s just unacceptable.”
