LOS ANGELES -- Seventh-ranked UCLA used a 20-0 run spanning over six minutes of the first half to take control, and cruise to a 76-50 win over Sacramento State on Monday evening at Pauley Pavilion. The game marked the season opener for both teams.
The Hornets went on an 8-0 run, capped by a
Callum McRae bucket, to take a game-high four point lead at 16-12. However, the Bruins responded with a 20-0 spurt over the next 6:34 to take a 32-16 lead with 3:06 left in the first half. Sacramento State trimmed the deficit to 11 points early in the second half, but would not get closer.
UCLA is currently ranked seventh in the nation in the USA Today coaches poll, and eighth in the AP poll. The Bruins were a Sweet 16 team a year ago, and went 14-1 at home last season while beating teams by an average of 18.4 points per contest.
Tonight marked the first game of the
David Patrick era, as he became the 15th head men's basketball coach in Sacramento State history when he was named to the position on April 5. Tonight marked the first of three straight road games to open the season for Patrick and the Hornets.
The game marked the only the third time the two teams have met, and each resulted in a Bruin victory at Pauley Pavilion. Of the Hornets' 13-man roster, seven players are new to the program and six received playing time in tonight's game. In all, 10 Sacramento State played tonight.
Two big reasons for tonight's setback were the Hornets' shooting and turnovers. Sacramento State finished shooting 35% (19-55) from the field, 11% (2-18) from the 3-point line and 59% (10-17) from the free throw line. The Hornets also committed 21 turnovers against a stout UCLA defense which resulted in a 26-5 Bruin advantage in points off miscues.
Patrick and his staff have stressed rebounding, and the Hornets held a 37-33 edge on the glass. That included 15 offensive rebounds which resulted in 10 second chance points. Sacramento State also committed just 12 fouls and went to the free throw line 12 more times than UCLA (17-5). The Bruins shot 53% (34-64) from the field and 6-of-10 from distance, while also coming up with 12 steals (seven from Jaylen Clark).
Zach Chappell and
Cameron Wilbon led the Hornets in scoring, as both players had 10 points and three rebounds. Chappell was 4-for-4 from the free throw line, but the rest of the team was 6-of-13 from charity.
McRae led all players with 10 rebounds and he also added six points. Fellow big
Akol Mawein was also making his Hornet debut and finished with seven points, eight rebounds and a blocked shot. Point guard
Gianni Hunt, a transfer from Oregon State, finished with nine points, four rebounds, four assists and a steal.
Austin Patterson had three points and four rebounds in a team-high 31 minutes played.
Teiano Hardee added three points,
Quadry Adams two points on a late dunk, and
Hunter Marks had a pair of rebounds.
UCLA was led by Clark's 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists and seven steals. He shot 7-of-7 from the field and 2-of-2 from the free throw line, and was a game-high +32 in plus/minus.
• Besides Patrick, tonight also marked the Sacramento State coaching debuts of associate head coach
Michael Czepil, assistant coaches
Loren Leath and
Hays Myers, director of operations
Tyson Batiste, and director of scouting and analytics
Elijah Roth.
• Of the Hornets' five starters in tonight's game (
Gianni Hunt,
Zach Chappell,
Austin Patterson,
Akol Mawein and
Callum McRae), only one of those players was a returner from a year ago (Chappell).
• Since joining the Div. I ranks prior to the 1991-92 season, Sacramento State has never defeated a nationally ranked opponent (0-17).
• Tonight marked the first time fans watched Sacramento State play, as the Hornets did not play an exhibition game this year, opting to play two closed scrimmages instead.
• The Hornets are 26-48 all-time in season openers, including a 12-20 mark in the Div. I era.
• Sacramento State debuted its brand new black jerseys in tonight's game.
• The Hornets will play a pair of road games over the next seven days, including Saturday at UC San Diego (7 p.m.), and next Monday at Denver (Nov. 14).
• The Denver matchup will be the first of a home and home that will see the two teams play at the Nest on Dec. 7.
• Of the Hornets' first eight games of the season, only one will come in the Nest (Nov. 18 vs. UC Merced).
