UCLA losing big at halftime

 

Not even an overdose of tryptophan could explain UCLA's sluggish start against Portland at the 76 Classic tonight.

Missed shots. Bad passes. A shot-clock violation.

It all added up to the Bruins trailing, 36-19 ,against an opponent that looked quicker and sharper through the first 20 minutes of this game at the Anaheim Convention Center.

UCLA made just 32% of its shots, barely more than half of its free throws. The Pilots made 57% of their shots and went six for six from the free-throw line. Portland had 10 turnovers, but even that was two less than the Bruins.

-- David Wharton

Photo: UCLA forward Reeves Nelson is fouled on a shot attempt by Portland forward Ethan Niedermeyer, left, and forward Luke Sikma. Credit: Bret Hartman / For The Times

UCLA basketball: Halftime report

Looking to take another step forward after their season-opening loss, the Bruins showed glimpses of improved play while building a 28-20 lead over Pepperdine in the first half of Monday night's game at Pauley Pavilion. 

UCLA came out playing with some of the defensive intensity for which Coach Ben Howland's teams traditionally have been known. The Bruins forced turnovers by guard Keion Bell and forward Taylor Darby, and center Drew Gordon blocked Mychel Thompson's jumper on the perimeter.

But, at the same time, UCLA guard Michael Roll was missing shots and tossing a pass out of bounds. There were other miscues against Peperdine's zone defense, and the Waves led by two points early on.

And UCLA's free-throw-shooting woes continued.

Eventually, Roll found his range and Gordon continued with his progress, hitting a little baseline turnaround. Malcolm Lee warmed up, too, scoring nine points as the lead stretched to eight.

-- David Wharton

Photo: UCLA center Drew Gordon power his way to a shot in the second half Monday night. Credit: Christine Cotter / Los Angeles Times

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UCLA basketball: Dragovic's attorney responds

The attorney for UCLA forward Nikola Dragovic responded this evening to prosecutors' characterization of his client as the aggressor in an altercation that led to Dragovic's being charged with felony assault.

Jon Artz said Dragovic was trying to leave the Hollywood concert venue where the incident took place last month and was pursued by the alleged victim.

According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office, Dragovic's roommate, Aleksandar Stanisic, began arguing with a man and his girlfriend during the show. Afterward, prosecutors said, Dragovic charged the man and pushed him into a glass display case, which shattered.

The alleged victim suffered a lacerated Achilles' tendon, authorities said.

Telling another side to the story, Artz said the man followed Dragovic out of the Henry Fonda Theater and allegedly claimed to have a knife.

"He was the aggressor," Artz said. "He was drinking heavily. He slapped Dragovic's roommate."

Dragovic remains suspended from the team. A UCLA alumnus, Artz said he hoped that Coach Ben Howland would reconsider.

For more details, check www.latimes.com/sports/.

-- David Wharton

UCLA basketball: Details on Dragovic incident [UPDATED]

Prosecutors released more information on the Nikola Dragovic case this morning, saying the UCLA forward allegedly got into a scuffle outside the Henry Fonda Theater after an Oct. 24 concert, leaving his alleged victim with multiple injuries.

According to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office, Dragovic allegedly charged the victim and pushed him into a glass display case, which shattered. The alleged victim suffered cuts to his leg and foot.

After several weeks of investigation, Dragovic and a friend, Aleksandar Stanisic, were arrested on Friday.

Dragovic was charged with felony assault and, according to the district attorney, was released on $60,000 bail. His arraignment is set for Dec. 21.

In the meantime, he remains suspended from the team.

[UPDATE 12:19 p.m.: An earlier version of this post misidentified the site of the scuffle as the Henry Ford Theater.]

-- David Wharton

Photo: Nikola Dragovic. Credit: Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times

UCLA basketball: Dragovic case

A city attorney's spokesman said that, at this point, there is no indication prosecutors in his office will take action in a year-old case against UCLA forward Nikola Dragovic.

Dragovic was arrested last fall after a fight with a former girlfriend. After speaking with the player and the alleged victim, the city attorney decided not to proceed but left open the possibility of revisiting the case within a year.

That incident is back in the news this week after Dragovic was arrested on suspicion of felony assault connected with an altercation at a Hollywood concert last month.

"I don't anticipate anything happening with the old case, because there is no additional information on that incident," spokesman Frank Mateljan said.

The district attorney's office, which is handling the new case, had no information to release this morning.

-- David Wharton

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UCLA basketball: Nikola Dragovic remains day-to-day

UCLA forward Nikola Dragovic will remain suspended through Monday night's game against Pepperdine after meeting with Coach Ben Howland on Friday to discuss his legal troubles.

Dragovic faces a felony assault charge stemming from an altercation at a Hollywood concert last month. The incident was made public Friday and he was suspended for the Cal State Bakersfield game that night.

"We have to get more information that's going to be given to the appropriate people here on our campus," Howland said.

The coach said he learned enough from his meeting with the senior to feel comfortable that he knows the details of what happened, but declined to comment further, saying, "This is a legal case. This is a case that is obviously pending."

Dragovic was expected to attend practice this afternoon but will not be allowed to participate. Similarly, Howland said, Dragovic could sit on the bench in street clothes for the Pepperdine game.

Describing his meeting with Dragovic on Friday night, Howland said, "It was a long day for him. He was obviously very apologetic and felt terrible about this whole situation."

-- David Wharton

Photo: UCLA's Nikola Dragovic blocks a shot during a game last season against Oregon. Credit: Los Angeles Times.

Ted Green: What's going on with UCLA basketball?

What in the name of Gail Goodrich and Walt Hazzard, Lewis Alcindor, the Walton Gang , Nell and John Wooden Court and everything holy in Westwood did I just watch?

That was UCLA basketball?

Losing to Cal State Fullerton and now down 10 to Cal State Bakersfield in the opening half?

Goodness, gracious, sakes alive.

Who's next, Cal State . . . Channel Islands? San Marcos? Dominguez Hills?

If UCLA has an open date tomorrow, I hear Stanislaus is looking for a game.

But Bakersfield? The last time I even heard the name Bakersfield mentioned in public, John Steinbeck was writing about dust bowls in "The Grapes of Wrath."

Normally, any UCLA team going back half a century would eat a Cal State Bakersfield for breakfast. Certainly Bakersfield has plenty of Denny's.

But in case you haven't noticed, things are not normal in Howlandville, far from it.

If you respect the decades of sustained excellence that UCLA basketball stands for, it's almost unbearable to watch how far the mighty have fallen.

If you like movie trivia, Coach Ben Howland (pictured above) is aptly named Ben because I smell a rat.

UCLA basketball: Bruins trail early before tying score at halftime

Things might have gone worse for the Bruins. But not by much.

This morning, they suspended senior forward Nikola Dragovic after learning that he faces a felony assault charge relating to an unspecified incident last month at a concert in Hollywood.

This evening, they were sleep-walking through much of the first half against Cal State Bakersfield, falling behind by 11 points on several occasions, before scrambling to tie the score, 35-35, at halftime.

UCLA was shooting the ball better at 55.6%, but seemed occasionally confounded by Bakersfield's zone defense, committing 10 turnovers. The Roadrunners were led by Stephon Carter's 10 points and stayed even with the Bruins, 15-15, in rebounds for the first 20 minutes.

-- David Wharton

UCLA's Nikola Dragovic arrested, suspended by Bruins

UCLA basketball forward Nikola Dragovic was suspended for tonight’s game against Cal State Bakersfield after his arrest in relation to an incident last month at a concert in Hollywood.

Dragovic was informed this morning that the Los Angeles district attorney filed a felony charge against him. He turned himself into University of California police and Hollywood Division detectives soon after.

The charge could be even more serious given that Dragovic was arrested at the start of last season in regard to an altercation with his ex-girlfriend.

At the time, the city attorney's office decided not to file charges after meeting with the player and the alleged victim, though prosecutors reserved the right to revisit the case for up to a year.

“This is an unfortunate situation for Nikola,” Coach Ben Howland said. “Our staff and players will do what we can to help him during this time. He made us aware of the incident when It occurred, but until this morning, we did not know charges would be filed.”

According to the Associated Press, Dragovic was booked and released from the Hollywood station on $30,000 bail late Friday, Los Angeles police Officer Julie Boyer said.

Dragovic's status for upcoming games remained uncertain.

-- David Wharton

UCLA basketball: Early signing period

The early signing period for college basketball ends today and, by the looks of things, UCLA will have plenty of work to do before spring.

The Bruins signed two of their top prospects: big man Josh Smith from Washington and Mater Dei guard Tyler Lamb.

But guard Trey Zeigler from Michigan has said that he wants to wait until the spring period before announcing  his decision.

There are still a few hours left, but at this point it's growing more likely that two other UCLA targets -- Ray McCallum and Terrence Jones -- will do the same.

McCallum, a point guard from Michigan, recently made an official visit to Florida. Multiple sources have said that Jones, a forward from Oregon, is leaning toward sticking close to home at Washington or Oregon.

-- David Wharton

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Photo: Mater Dei's Tyler Lamb. Credit: Lori Shepler / Los Angeles Times