The Chattanooga Mocs (2-4) dropped a 106-65 decision at No. 22 UCLA in historic Pauley Pavilion. The Bruins used two early scoring runs in the first half to take control of the game.
After Z. Mason (Nashville, Tenn.) got the scoring started, UCLA went on a 12-0 run for an early 12-2 lead. Greg Pryor (Memphis, Tenn.) cut the lead to six, 14-8, with a layup at 13:37 before the Bruins out-scored the Mocs 14-2 over the next three-plus minutes for an 18-point cushion, 28-10, capped by a Zach LaVine dunk.
Mason scored back-to-back baskets to cut the margin to 28-14, but that’s as close it got. The Bruins pulled away for a 47-25 halftime lead and never looked back.
Martynas Bareika (Kedainiai, Lithuania) led the way with 17 tonight making a career-best five 3pt baskets. He hit all five in the second half where he scored 15 of his 17. Mason added 15 points and two blocks, while Casey Jones (New Orleans, La.) chipped in 10 points and a team-high six rebounds.
Jordan Adams paced four Bruins in double figures with 22 tonight. Norman Powell and Zach LaVine had 19 apiece, as Kyle Anderson tallied 17 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
UCLA shot a sizzling 62.9 percent (44-70) from the field including four-of-nine (44.4%) from 3pt range. Conversely, the Mocs shot just 35.1 percent (26-74) from the floor, 30 percent (9-30) from beyond the arc. The Bruins held a 48-33 advantage on the glass.
“Tonight was embarrassing,” Head Coach Will Wade said. “I am not going to sugar-coat it. It was an embarrassment for us and our program. I am not going to act like we fought back, because we should have never been down like that. We didn’t compete like we needed to and it’s the first game all year where we didn’t come and compete like we needed to.
“Give UCLA credit because they took us out of a lot of things and did some really good things, but we didn’t do what we needed to do.”
The Mocs remain on the road this week heading to Las Vegas, Nev., for the Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational. Chattanooga meets Morehead State Thursday and faces either Gardner-Webb or IUPUI on Friday at Orleans Arena. Links to audio (free) and live stats can be accessed on GoMocs.com, and fans can follow @GoMocsMBB on twitter for live updates.