UCLA-Arizona State: second half

The Bruins shot only 39.1% for the half (9-23), but ASU was worse at just 33% (7-21), including some missed layins and dunks. UCLA had an 18-12 rebounding edge, but the difference came on three-point shooting: 6-11 for UCLA (Darren Collison 4-4, Josh Shipp 2-5) while ASU was 2-7. The Bruins finished the half on an 18-7 run.

The Devils also are in foul trouble: Jerren Shipp has three and Ty Abbott and Rihards Kuksiks have two each. Russell Westbrook, Alfred Aboya and James Keefe each have two for the Bruins.

>> Westbrook a three, Collison a three, the Bruins are filling the ASU passing lanes and the Bruins have a 37-20 lead with 17:57 to go. FSN analyst Don MacLean made a good point about Luc Richard Mbah A Moute's excellent defensive work on James Harden, especially keeping him from driving the lane.

>> Shipp's slump is over . . . as long as he can play against Arizona State every game. He was 5-8 against them from long distance at Pauley, and 4-7 so far tonight (2-5 first half, 2-2 second half). The Bruins are up, 51-32, with 12:12 to go.

>> You won't see this often: ASU's Abbott missed a right-hand dunk and then Westbrook had a breakaway and missed his own right-hand slam try. It happened with 11:45 to go in the game.

>> Arizona State has cut the Bruins' lead from 20 to 14 at 51-37 with 8:35 to play with a 9-3 run, but UCLA is shooting 69.2% (9-13) in the second half!

>> Defense matters: the Bruins went without a field goal for 6:22, from Josh Shipp's triple at 12:17, for a 51-32 lead, to Kevin Love's tip-in at 5:55 to play for a 55-39 lead. Arizona State was only able to outscore UCLA by a 7-4 margin during that time.

This game had every reason to be close, but it wasn't. Collison's three-point shooting and terrific defense on ASU's Harden and filling the passing allowed the Bruins to ease to a win that keeps them in first place.

Final score: UCLA 70, Arizona State 49

Comments

[Nico]

Rich,

Do you watch these games at home? What about the away games that aren't on TV? How can you still blog on those?

[Rich Perelman]

Thanks for your question. I watch all UCLA away games at home; fortunately, all of UCLA's away games have been televised this year. Happily, there are enough satellite and Web services around that every game is bound to be televised somewhere.