This post was updated Nov. 5 at 12:30 a.m.

Additions like senior guard Donovan Dent created expectations for the Bruins – a top-15 team, according to the Associated Press’ preseason poll.

But while Dent lit up the scoresheet in his Bruin debut Monday night, No. 12 UCLA men’s basketball (1-0) failed to live up to its supposed potential in its season opener, as 29.5-point underdog Eastern Washington (0-1) lost by a score of 80-74 at Pauley Pavilion.

“I blame myself because I knew it was coming tonight. I couldn’t stop it, so I failed,” said coach Mick Cronin. “There’s so many mistakes, I’d like to fire myself.”

The Eagles finished shooting 53.7% from the field – 6.6% better than the Bruins, who took 16 more shots. And UCLA won the turnover battle by 16 and rebound battle by five.

Those margins weren’t anywhere close to satisfactory for Cronin, however.

The coach blamed the Bruins’ preseason success for giving his team the wrong attitude, adding that it was unfortunate they won both exhibition matches. On Monday, he criticized his team’s arrogance and lack of humility.

The Eagles’ veteran squad – with four fifth-year players in its starting five – put up a better fight than many were likely expecting, especially with its leading scorer from a season ago, guard Andrew Cook, out for the season with an ankle injury.

“Our defense was pitiful. I don’t know how many times I can say the same thing,” Cronin said.

Dent finished as an offensive bright spot for the Bruins, with a team-high 21 points on 8-for-17 shooting. Additionally, the Riverside, California, local played 36 minutes, including all 20 of the first half. UCLA’s new center – junior Xavier Booker, who spent his past two seasons as a Michigan State forward – managed 14 points and reeled in seven boards.

Meanwhile, returners senior guard Skyy Clark, senior forward Tyler Bilodeau and sophomore guard Trent Perry all reached double-digit points. Clark’s first three baskets gave the Bruins their first three leads of the night. After starting Monday 0-for-4, Bilodeau managed 19 points on 8-for-12 shooting the rest of the way. And Perry, in shades of the since-departed Sebastian Mack, delivered 11 points off the bench.

But no matter the offense, the Bruins’ defense and mindset weren’t up to Cronin’s standard – something he said he made clear in the locker room postgame. 

“We didn’t come out with enough fight,” Bilodeau said. “(We) can never come into a game like that – shouldn’t happen.”

Eastern Washington managed three double-digit scorers of its own, including guard Isaiah Moses – who scored 11 in the first half and finished with 15 – and the Eagles’ 22-for-29 success from inside the arc helped keep them in the game.

While Monday’s affair will go down as a win in the record book, it may very well be remembered for how the Bruins ended a game they led by 15 on six different occasions up by just six points. 

“We kind of came out with the mindset like, ‘We’re going to come in and just blow them out,’” Dent said. “That’s kind of what caused this game. … Practice Wednesday – we’ve got to come in (with) the right mindset.”