UCLA MEN'S BASKETBALL VS. OHIO STATE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The UCLA men's basketball team will look to win its first nationally televised game of the season when it plays Ohio State today in the annual CBS Sports Classic. The Bruins are 6-6 all-time against the Buckeyes, most recently a 77-70loss against their future Big
Ten opponents on Dec. 19, 2020, when no fans could attend the game during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here's what you need to know about the nonconference matchup:
UCLA VS. OHIO STATE When: Noon today
Where: State Farm Arena,
Atlanta
TV/Radio: CBS/AM 570 Records: UCLA 5-3; Ohio State 8-2
UCLA's latest result: The
Bruins are coming off a 65-56loss at Villanova on Dec. 9. UCLA junior guard Lazar Stefanovic finished with a team-high 14 points and nine rebounds. UCLA led 29-25at halftime and 45-41with nine minutes to go but was outscored by Villanova 24-11 in the final 8:24. Sophomore forward Adem Bona had 11 points and 8 rebounds but fouled out after 30 minutes.
Ohio State's latest result: The Buckeyes are coming off an 83-80loss at Penn State on Dec. 9. The Buckeyes were up by 18 points in the second half but made only one basket during a crucial sevenminute stretch. Sophomore guard Bruce Thornton finished with a team-high 17 points, which is just under his season average of 18.5 points per game.
Matchup to watch: Freshman guard Sebastian Mack (team-high 13.6 points and 4.5 rebounds) and sophomore guard Dylan Andrews (9.9 points and a teamhigh 4.3assists) against Thornton and sophomore guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (14.3 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists). In particular, Mack vs. Thornton will be a battle between the game's top scorers, who both can get to the free-throw line, seemingly at will.
UCLA trends to watch: The Bruins are 3-5 in the eight trips to the CBS Sports Classic, including a 1-2 record against Ohio State during the showcase games. UCLA will close out its nonconference schedule at home by hosting CSUN on Tuesday and future Big Ten foe Maryland on Dec. 22. The Bruins will look to protect their 29-game home winning streak, which is the longest at UCLA since the program's historic 98-game home winning streak in the 1970s under Hall of Fame coach John Wooden. Sophomore guard Will McClendon, who is averaging 5.0 points and
3.0 rebounds per game, has been a bright spot this season, particularly from long distance, shooting 47.8% from 3-point range. He is one of two Bruins shooting above 29% from 3-point range. McClendon has shot 3 of 4 from beyond the arc in UCLA's last two games and played a team-high 32minutes off the bench against Villanova.
— John W. Davis