(12) Butler (3-1) vs. U-C-L-A (2-2)
Sports Network | November 27, 2009
GAME NOTES: The 12th-ranked Butler Bulldogs square off against the UCLA Bruins tonight, as they meet in the consolation round of the 76 Classic at the Anaheim Convention Center.
The Bulldogs were handed their first loss of the season on Thanksgiving, as they were upended by 22nd-ranked Minnesota, 82-73, in the first round of this tourney. Butler opened the campaign with consecutive wins over Davidson, Northwestern and Evansville.
As for the Bruins, they were thoroughly outplayed and embarrassed in last night's first-round bout, falling 74-47 to the University of Portland. The setback snapped a two-game win streak and dropped UCLA to a level 2-2 on the campaign.
UCLA leads the head-to-head series with Butler, 4-1, and it has won the last three meetings, with the most recent encounter taking place during the 1963-64 campaign.
The Bulldogs turned the ball over 21 times and shot a dismal 33.3 percent from the floor, as they were downed by Minnesota on Thursday. Butler also struggled from long range (5-of-23), but it did do damage at the foul line, converting on 36-of-45 attempts. Matt Howard went 15-of-18 at the stripe for 23 points, and Shelvin Mack added 20 points and six boards to the equation. Gordon Hayward got involved as well, notching a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. Hayward and Mack are now tied for the team-lead in scoring at 14.8 ppg, with Hayward also grabbing 8.5 rpg and Mack dishing out 4.5 apg.
The Bruins struggled greatly with their shot last night, making only 32.7 percent of their attempts from the field in a loss to Portland. UCLA also had issues from long distance (5-of-23) and at the foul line (6-of-14), while committing 16 turnovers that led to 21 points for Portland. Malcolm Lee guided the team in defeat with 14 points, and Drew Gordon chipped in with 10. Gordon continues to lead the team in scoring at 14.3 ppg, while Lee checks in with 13.5 ppg and 3.5 apg.
Butler is simply the more talented team and it shouldn't have any problems handling a UCLA team that isn't nearly as good as years past.
GAME NOTES: The 12th-ranked Butler Bulldogs square off against the UCLA Bruins tonight, as they meet in the consolation round of the 76 Classic at the Anaheim Convention Center.
FACTS & STATS: Anaheim Convention Center (7,734) -- Anaheim, California. Television: ESPNU. Home Record: Butler 1-0, UCLA 2-1. Away Record: Butler 2-0, UCLA 0-0. Neutral Record: Butler 0-1, UCLA 0-1. Conference Record: Butler 0-0, UCLA 0-0. Series Record: UCLA leads, 4-1.
Butler 72, UCLA 60
