The UCLA men’s basketball team has played better since Cody Riley returned to the lineup. (Photo Credit: uclabruins.com)
Tonight, the UCLA Bruins are in Salt Lake City to play Utah in the first game of this weekend’s Mountain school road trip. This evening’s game has a 5 pm tip-off and will air on Pac-12 Networks.
When these teams met on New Year’s Eve, the Bruins squeaked by 72-70. At that point in the season, the Bruins still had a healthy Chris Smith and the team won the game after Jalen Hill scored the final four points by the Bruins when he made four of six free throws in the final 30 seconds.
Now, Smith is hurt and out for the year and Hill has been unavailable due to personal reasons. When you add in the fact that Mac Etienne has joined the team since that game, UCLA will be playing with a different group of players tonight.
But, so is Utah.
The Utes will be without Rylan Jones and Mikael Jantunen. In their places, look for freshman Pelle Larsson and Riley Battin to each get the start.
Since the teams met in December, Utah has gone 6-7 in conference play and they have lost their last three games. The Utes aren’t really playing any better at home than they are on the road. Half of their conference wins have come at home and they are 3-3 at home against Pac-12 foes this season.
While the Bruins have been playing progressively better since Cody Riley returned from his ankle injury, this game still looks like it could go either way.
Listen to the Game Here on TMB!
The TuneIn player won’t embed here on Substack, but you can open another tab to listen. Today’s game is on Pac-12 Networks with Guy Haberman and Mike Montgomery calling the game. If you would prefer to listen to Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray call today’s game instead you can listen to today’s game online.
Join your fellow Bruin fans discussing today’s game below.
This is your UCLA Bruins at Utah Utes game thread.
UCLA Men’s Basketball (16-5, 12-3)
Opponent: Utah Utes (9-10, 6-10)
Series Record: UCLA leads, 13-10
When: 5:00 pm PT, Thursday, February 25, 2021
Where: Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City, UT
TV: Pac-12 Network National, Los Angeles and Mountain with Guy Haberman and Mike Montgomery
Radio/Audio: AM 570 in Los Angeles with Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray Satellite Radio: Sirius XM Ch. 382 (UCLA feed) And, of course, here in The Mighty Bruin Game Thread!
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Feels like UCLA isn’t even playing that well on defense but holding Utah below 40 is great. Utah is playing pretty soft daring all our shooters to shoot 3s and we’re mostly hitting.
There’s no single game penalties. Saturday @Colorado followed by Tuesday @ Oregon followed by SC @ home is a stretch of very tough games. We may be the underdog in all 3.
WOW!
They kept missing point blank shots. UCLA didn't need to foul.
That Utah player is missing a ton of layups
C!
A!
U clap clap! C clap clap! L clap clap! A clap clap clap! Fight fight fight!
Bruins made 5 of their last 6-- let's go!!
Riley playing hard so far. Good sign!
Jules with the shot clock beater-- nice!
Jules!
Jules is starting to shoot the ball more these last two games; that's not always a good thing... shades of Jules past!
Tyger and Jaime two fouls apiece, with 4 to go in the first half
Great trapping D!
Send it, big man!!
Juzang from the arc!
LOL 00.4 to go in the half, Bruin ball!
Good half!
At the half, UCLA 35, Utah 27
Stats that stick out are UCLA shooting 54%, Utes 38%, and UCLA 60% from 3, while Utes 33%
Feels like UCLA isn’t even playing that well on defense but holding Utah below 40 is great. Utah is playing pretty soft daring all our shooters to shoot 3s and we’re mostly hitting.
Utes only have 2 scoring about 3 points, while we have 3 doing so
Noice, Riley!! That's how you start a half!
Tyger!!
Wow quick 8-0 run to run the lead to 15 in the first 90 seconds of the second half. Riley playing really well
Tyger and Bernard getting in on the action
Let's see if our boys have a killer instinct or not; we need to pour it on!
Tyger feeling it!
Wow!
Offense is just flowing now. Great to see.
Looking solid from the sample I have seen. Hanging out after 2nd COVID vaccine. I feel this one a bit more, but my Bruins are easing my aches.
Congrats, Army! That's great news!!
The vaccine, not the pain LOL
Thanks. Hopefully 1 more day of discomfort only. We need to get back playing offense
Throw it down, Jaime!!
and then a rejection on the other end!
Here's the offense we saw against WSU
WTF was that 3, Riley??
Would prefer to see more subs in this second half
After that shot, Riley may be sitting
Jules feeling it!
Not a good idea, Jules...
Sweet dunk, Jaime!!
Strong win. I'm sure Lunardi will have us drop in the seedings anyways
I usually go to his first initial to cover my sentiments. F. Lunardi.
Great game by our boys! That's what we want to see on the road trip!
Yay, a team win!
Jules Bernard scored 16 @ the Huntsman Center last year. Tonight he scored 19. I love seeing the Bruins beat the Utes!
We shot well from the three 11-19, don't count our chickens...
Hopefully I can catch the replay later. Looks like I won’t have a lot to say 😂 mick showing me to eat my words apparently
There’s no single game penalties. Saturday @Colorado followed by Tuesday @ Oregon followed by SC @ home is a stretch of very tough games. We may be the underdog in all 3.
Tyger didn't have to guard the point guards. They kept missing. LMAO!