UCLA goes 30 minutes without a Turnover, and dishes out 22 Assists, to puree the Lumberjacks into maple syrup, 77-60
Stephen F. Austin won 29 straight games? The only question is HOW?? The Bruins have just ended the Nation’s longest winning streak, by totally dominating SFA 77-60. The victory sends UCLA to the city of Memphis, where they will face Florida in the Sweet Sixteen. 3 of their last 5 NCAA Tournament appearances have been ended by Florida, including once in the Championship game, and another time in the Final Four. Most experts predict that this will make it 4 out of 6, considering the Gators are the #1 overall seed.
On the flip side, the Bruins will be playing with nothing to lose, as an underdog who has already achieved a respectable Sweet Sixteen goal, the first one for the school since 2008. Memphis will be like a home atmosphere for the SEC Gators, who have the Nation’s most lauded Defense, so it will take a perfect game from the Bruins to make this a contest.
A perfect game was not needed to beat SFA. The Bruins missed way too many lay-ups and Free Throws, and they allowed SFA to get to the hoop repeatedly, to get lay-ups of their own. But SFA’s lack of height and lack of outside shooting allowed the Bruins to take control in the 1st Half, and pull away early in the 2nd. Norman Powell was the key player for UCLA, with 16 Points, including three electrifying dunks, and it was Powell who spurred the key runs that flattened the ‘Jacks.
But it was the TEAM PLAY of UCLA, and the crisp execution, that gave them the edge. 22 Assists, and only 2 Turnovers (both by Bryce Alford) before garbage time equaled an offensive onslaught with which the ‘Jacks could not compete.