So, on Monday, I predicted the game would likely be over in the first five minutes. And, of course, I was wrong.
St. Francis stuck around a lot longer than anyone expected. Ultimately, it took the Bruins a little over 13 minutes to take the lead for good, and it took them until there were just three minutes left in the first half to go up by double digits.
Tonight’s game will be the meeting ever between the Lafayette Leopards and the Bruins.
Lafayette is a small school in Easton, Pennsylvania with just over 2,700 undergrads. The Leopards play in the Patriot League and they play their home games at the Kirby Sports Center which has a capacity of 2,644. It’s almost big enough to have all the undergrads inside.
Lafayette has a new head coach this season in Mike McGarvey. He took over as the interim head coach late last season and the team went 2-3 under him. He replaced Mike Jordan who was in his first season as the team’s coach. McGarvey became the interim coach when the school placed Jordan on paid leave to investigate a complaint after which he was fired and McGarvey had the interim tag removed.
McGarvey came to Lafayette as an assistant to Jordan after four seasons at Division III Lycoming, where he went 52-36 with one Division III Tournament appearance.
The Leopards opened the season on Monday against St. Joseph’s and lost 81-60. If St. Joseph’s beat them by that much, tonight’s game should be even easier for UCLA.
Starting Five
McGarvey will probably start three guards a forward and a center tonight. The big dog on this team is junior guard Devin Hines. Hines scored 15 points and grabbed five rebounds on Monday night. The other two guards didn’t make much of a contribution. Freshman Mark Butler scored just two points in his collegiate debut while sophomore Ryan Pettit did not play, though he is expected to start tonight.
Senior forward Kyle Jenkins was second on the team in points with eight on Monday. He also grabbed three boards. Junior Justin Vander Baan scored six points with three rebounds.
Look for Eric Sondberg to get plenty of minutes, especially if Pettit doesn’t start. He played 28 minutes on Monday and scored seven points while leading the team with six rebounds.
The Bottom Line
UCLA won’t need as much time to put this game away as they needed on Monday night.
Listen to the Game With TMB
Tonight’s game will be on Pac-12 Networks with J.B. Long and Don MacLean calling the game. If you prefer, you can listen to Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray. Just be sure to right-click on it so that you can open up another tab and have it going while you chat in the comments below. Listen to today’s game online.
This is your UCLA men’s basketball vs. Lafayette Leopards game thread. Here’s how to watch, listen and stream tonight’s game:
#25 UCLA Basketball (1-0)
Opponent: Lafayette Leopards (0-1)
Series Record: First meeting.
When: 8:00 pm PT, Friday, November 10, 2023
Where: Pauley Pavilion, Los Angeles, CA
TV: Pac-12 Network National and Los Angeles with J.B. Long and Don MacLean
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Mara doesn’t seem to have good instincts on the defensive end or for rebounding. How do you let a guy much shorter get the rebound behind you on a free throw???
U! Clap clap
C! Clap clap
L! Clap clap
A! Clap clap!
UCLA! Fight fight fight!
Good evening, Bruin Mamma! Hang in there for me. Go Bruins!
Will do!💙💛
Good evening Bruin Fam! 💙💛
Hey, Tamara!
Hi BB!
Good night, Tamara! Go Bruins!
Hello Tamara!💙💛
Hi BruinMom!
Hey, BruinMom!
Hey everyone
Hey, Jeffro!
Will McClendon starring for the first time
Happy for him!
He was an amazing player in high school. Would love to see him get his groove back.
Yes. His injury really took his game away but I too am hoping for a great comeback!
Well, that was quick! Bona benched with his first foul
4 team fouls already yikes
Lots of fouls. We are not in rhythm at all.
2:20 into the game, and we have 4 team fouls. Cronin will not be a happy camper
You really wonder where the offense will come from this year
I'd like to see us move the ball around al lot during the first half, see what we can develop, play-wise
Was thinking the same.
Dylan with the 3!
So I feel like we’re going to need some nicknames to get through this season- otherwise my spell check is going to go crazy :)
LOL Truth!
🤣
welp! Instead of game being over in first five minutes, we are down three and approaching foul trouble
This offense is rough.
Andrews again!
That is some sweet shooting by Dylan :-)
Happy for him. I remember when he missed that 3 last year against zona - I felt so bad for him.
Good night, Mighty Bruins, Too late out here. It's 32 out an blankets beckon me. Go Bruins!
Night Jim! 💙💛
Good night Doctor!
Night, Jim!
Bona back in
I'm surprised Lafayette didn't go inside at Bona, trying to get another foul
Have we resolved the last eligibility issue?
Not sure on Berkey.
Not yet ugh
Very annoying from the ncaa.
Mack with a 3!
Sweet shot
Nice eyes and pass by mara, nice shot by Mack
Wow, Mara is so tall, his shot almost looks flat!
I said the same thing!
Shooting 21% - not good
Wow. We are matching our 3 pt % from last game,
Keep pounding it inside, Bruins!
Bona has gotten so much better from the stripe
It’s great that Bona has vastly improved his free throw shooting
Interesting... Leopards drop all 5 players for the defensive rebound; they will not get fast break opportunities that way
How you gonna stop Mara's hook?? LOL
Nice hook by Mara!
Was that a skyhook?
Mara with the sky hook!
Offense is going to be very challenging for this team
They will have to really lock down the defense to stay in games
Are they even running plays? Offense just looks like a bunch of one on one stuff with no one even in the same book let alone the same page.
Mara doesn’t seem to have good instincts on the defensive end or for rebounding. How do you let a guy much shorter get the rebound behind you on a free throw???
I guess he didn’t box out
Mara had so much hype as a lottery pick. Maybe the Euro game is vastly different. Idk.
Wonder what habits he brings from European leagues that will not help him in NCAA
Nice layup by mack!
Mack’s drive with the foul was shades of Tyger!
Not sure what kind of team we want to be/ should be…. Lots of height, but not sure what the best way to utilise it is
Bona and Nwuba with 2 fouls apiece
And 2 on Mack
Really surprised about the reach in fouls. Move your feet.
Great drop-step by mara!!
Very patient
Jeffro's right-- on replay, it was a spin towards the basket, as opposed to a drop step
Nice spin
A lot of work to do this year
^^^facts
Oh, wow, Zona beat Duke!
Watched the last few minutes.
Does Zona look scary?
The few minutes I saw were scary TBH
It was the Caleb Love show during the time I watched
I'd love to see a lob inside when Mara rolls off of a pick. Who's gonna outjump Mara?
Again, no one blocking out, so tiny Leopard snuck in for the put-back
Where is the defensive rebounding?
I've yet to see some cohesive offensive sets being run this half; there's some ball movement, but our off-ball movement seems to be lacking
Agree - lots of passing but seems to lack purpose
OMG with all our height, we can't buy a board smdh
Okay, who here had Lafayette leading the entire first half?
Rebounding has been brutal. Amazing that they're only down by three.
Rebounding has been terrible