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Thumbs up for UCLA freshman center Joshua Smith

Los Angeles Times staff writer Ben Bolch
By Ben Bolch
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When X-rays on UCLA freshman center Joshua Smith’s right thumb were negative Friday, it was a bigger triumph for the Bruins than their blowout exhibition victory over Westmont the day before.

Smith, who sprained the thumb diving for a loose ball during the first half of the Bruins’ 95-59 victory over the NAIA Warriors, is listed as day to day. He had nine points and four rebounds in eight minutes.

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UCLA next plays Cal State Los Angeles on Tuesday at Pauley Pavilion in another exhibition before opening its season Nov. 12 against Cal State Northridge.

-- Ben Bolch

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Ben Bolch

Ben Bolch has been a Los Angeles Times staff writer since 1999. He is serving his second stint as the UCLA beat writer, which seems fitting since he has covered almost every sports beat except hockey and horse racing. Bolch is also the author of the recently released book “100 Things UCLA Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die.” He previously covered UCLA basketball from 2010-11 before going on to cover the NBA and the Clippers for five years. He happily traded in gobs of hotel points and airline miles to return to cover UCLA basketball and football in the summer of 2016. Bolch was once selected by NBA TV’s “The Starters” as the “Worst of the Week” after questioning their celebrity journalism-style questions at an NBA All-Star game and considers it one of his finer moments.

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