Bryce Alford Scores 28 As UCLA Routs Nicholls State, 107-74
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Bryce Alford scored 28 points, making a career-high six 3-pointers, and UCLA routed Nicholls State 107-74 Thursday night for the Bruins' third straight easy victory.
Norman Powell added 23 points and Tony Parker 20 for the Bruins (3-0), who opened with a 35-point win over Montana State and then defeated Coastal Carolina by 13 points. Freshman Kevon Looney had his second straight double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
Alford just missed his career high of 31 points. The sophomore son of coach Steve Alford tied his career-best with 12 assists and he made all six of his free throws.
Amin Torres scored all of his 18 points in the second half for the Colonels (0-2). Richie Lewis added 14 in the first meeting between the schools. The Colonels scored more consistently in the second half while expending most of their energy trying to escape a 33-point hole. Torres also tied his career-bests in 3-pointers (four) and field goals (seven) made.
The Bruins took control with a 19-2 run that extended their lead to 33-10 midway through the first half. It was a dominant stretch in which they reeled off four dunks sandwiched around two consecutive 3-pointers by Alford, who had six points in the spurt. Parker added five points and Powell three.
UCLA shot 64 percent from the floor and 80 percent from the line in the half, when the Bruins led 60-29 at the break. They held Nicholls to 39 percent shooting, while controlling the boards 24-13 — including an 18-8 edge on the defensive glass — and owning a 22-14 advantage in the paint.
Looney had a highlight play in the second half, stealing the ball from Torres and tearing down court for a fast-break dunk to make it 96-64. Isaac Hamilton's basket gave UCLA its largest lead at 100-64 in the closing minutes.
TIP-INS
Nicholls St.: The Colonels play a tough non-conference schedule, with Wake Forest, Michigan, and Wisconsin coming up. ... Their roster includes six foreigners: four Australians, a New Zealander and a German.
UCLA: The Bruins went 8-0 to open last season, Steve Alford's first in Westwood. ... Looney became the fourth player in the last 22 years to register a double-double in either of his first two games as a freshman, joining Charles O'Bannon, Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson, who had double-doubles in their first games. Looney had 17 points and 14 rebounds in his second game.
UP NEXT
Nicholls St.: At Wake Forest on Monday.
UCLA: Host Long Beach State on Sunday.
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