Xavier-UCLA: second half

UCLA outscored Xavier, 13-7, in the final 5:02 of the first half to take a nine-point lead into the second half, 33-24. Luc Richard Mbah A Moute has been the star, scoring nine points and grabbing eight rebounds. Kevin Love has eight;, Darren Collison, seven; and Russell Westbrook, six (and three rebounds).

Xavier put up 33 shots in the first half, but made only 11 for a 33.3% shooting percentage compared to 13-25 (52.%) for the Bruins. Xavier hasn't won a game this season when its opponent shoots better than 50%. After trailing early on the boards, the Bruins also have a solid 17-11 rebounding lead.

Alfred Aboya and James Keefe each have two fouls, as do Xavier's James Duncan and Drew Lavender.

>> How's this for defense: In four NCAA Tournament games, the Bruins are giving up an average of 22.3 points in the first half and have an average halftime lead of almost 13 points.

>> Xavier got the first two points in the second half, but Duncan is now on the bench with three fouls, Lavender appears gimpy and the Bruins have a 10-point lead: they are 27-0 this season when they have a 10-point lead in a game.

>> Westbrook got away with a push with the right arm on the way to the hoop, but made the bucket. Then the fun started. Westbrook's missed free throw turned into a Love rebound and Collison three-pointer. And then Love hit a turnaround bank at the right base, and it's 45-28 with 15:35 to go. Seven points in 37 seconds has this game in the verge of being a rout.

>> Xavier scored at 19:15 in the half to cut the Bruins' lead to six at 34-28, but it's been 13-0 since then with the Musketeers heading to the foul line, down 48-28.

>> The Bruins committed their seventh team foul with 13:07 to play, so Xavier is going to be shooting free throws the rest of the way. The Musketeers have committed four team fouls. And the press is on; Collison was fouled twice on the last drive, but Lavender was called for the last one, his third.

>> Xavier has cut six points off UCLA's 20-point lead, but the Bruins are ahead, 53-39, with 10:56 to play in the game. Love and Collison are back, however.

>>The Musketeers are playing aggressively in the second half, but they are only 6-16 (37.5%) in the half and just 1-6 from three-point shots. It's hard to catch up that way and the Bruins aren't giving up any cheapies either.

>> Love's second three-pointer of the game gives the Bruins another 20-point lead at 65-45 thanks to a 10-2 run over a 2:17 period. Note that Love's jumper came at the end of the 35-second clock as Coach Ben Howland is squeezing down the number of possessions remaining.

>> Just 3:57 to go and the Bruins are still up by 20, and UCLA is heading for its 18th Final Four. Critics will focus on the fact that the Bruins do not have a point off the bench, but they are shooting 53% and have 15 assists on 26 field goals. They also have a 30-20 rebounding edge in the game.

>> The Bruins are now 24-0 when scoring 70 or more points in a game this season and a 76-57 final sends the Bruins to San Antonio.

Final score: UCLA 76, Xavier 57

Comments

[Dean Venture]

Yeah, so do you think Xavier will shoot 33% in this half too? Better cut down on those turnovers, Bruins.

[Dean Venture]

Well, shooting a little better wasn't enough for X. But the Bruins cutting down on the turnovers still makes me happy.

Luc's ankle still seemed to slow him, but 80% of Luc is better than anybody Xavier had to throw at him. A double double? Awesome.

This was the performance that we Bruin fans have been looking for. This is a team that can win 2 more games, but only if they show up like they did today. Playing this well only keeps you in the game against Kansas or UNC.