Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025

AdvertiseDonateSubmit
NewsSportsArtsOpinionThe QuadPhotoVideoIllustrationsCartoonsGraphicsThe StackPRIMEEnterpriseInteractivesPodcastsGamesClassifiedsPrint issues

BREAKING:

Feb. 18 SJP protest

UCLA men’s basketball seeks to enhance offense ahead of Prairie View A&M matchup

Skyy Clark defends a player at Pauley Pavilion. The junior guard posted a season-high 15 points against Arizona on Saturday. (Shane Yu/Daily Bruin staff)

Men's basketball


Prairie View A&M
Tuesday, 6:30 p.m.

Pauley Pavilion
BTN

By Kai Dizon

Dec. 16, 2024 6:52 p.m.

Questions loomed on how the Bruins would mesh with eight new additions to the roster ahead of the 2024-2025 season.

But it looks like everything is falling into place.

Riding on an eight-game win streak, No. 18 UCLA men’s basketball (9-1) will return to Westwood to face Prairie View A&M (1-9) on Tuesday night at Pauley Pavilion.

“We’ve got so many new guys. We’ve got some young guys, some older guys,” said junior guard Skyy Clark. “This is the first team I’ve been on where I like every single person on the team. Just having that camaraderie off the court carries on to the court. We saw that in the final minutes of the game.”

Clark is coming off his best offensive performance with UCLA, notching a season-high 15 points in the team’s 13-point comeback victory over Arizona on Saturday.

The Bruins retained their status as the No. 1 scoring defense in the nation – surrendering just 55 points per game – after limiting the Wildcats to 54.

“Real teams – they don’t talk about it, they just get it done,” said coach Mick Cronin.

However, the Bruins have failed to be as effective on the other side of the ball this season. They’ve dropped to No. 194 in the nation on scoring offense – averaging 75.6 points per game – after posting a meager 57 points in Saturday’s affair.

UCLA boasts three players averaging double-digit points – junior forward Tyler Bilodeau, sophomores guard/forward Eric Dailey Jr. and guard Sebastian Mack – but Dailey and Mack combined for just nine against Arizona.

Cronin attributed the Bruins’ lackluster offensive performance to the Wildcats’ own defensive showing, forcing 14 UCLA turnovers. In contrast, Prairie View A&M ranks second-to-last in the nation in scoring defense, conceding 95.5 points per game.

Despite their woes on the defensive side of the ball, the Panthers have displayed some ability to score, averaging 80 points per game and showcase their own trio of double-digit scorers.

Guard Nick Anderson has proven to be Prairie View A&M’s leading threat, averaging 19 points per game, and posted a season-high 32 in a loss to Northern Colorado.

Supporting Anderson are guard Tanahj Pettway and forward Marcel Bryant, who average 15.5 and 10.6 points per game this season, respectively.

With a seemingly subpar opponent in Prairie View A&M, UCLA has one last opportunity to tighten loose screws before games against North Carolina and Gonzaga – which are then followed by a string of Big Ten play to kick off the new year.

And the Panthers’ apparent lack of defensive prowess may be exactly what the Bruins need to get the offense rolling.

“Who comes together and who can gel the most – that’s the new world we’re in,” Cronin said.

Share this story:FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Kai Dizon | Assistant Sports editor
Dizon is a 2024-2025 assistant Sports editor on the baseball, men’s tennis, women’s tennis and women’s volleyball beats. He was previously a reporter on the baseball and men’s water polo beats. Dizon is a second-year ecology, behavior and evolution student from Chicago.
Dizon is a 2024-2025 assistant Sports editor on the baseball, men’s tennis, women’s tennis and women’s volleyball beats. He was previously a reporter on the baseball and men’s water polo beats. Dizon is a second-year ecology, behavior and evolution student from Chicago.
COMMENTS
Featured Classifieds
More classifieds »
Related Posts