Thanks for joining me! Keep following along with our March Madness coverage here at VAVEL USA!!!
The 14th-seeded UAB Blazers will face the 11th-seeded UCLA Bruins on Saturday!!! Who saw that matchup coming!!!
Nic Moore had 24 points on 7-of-18 shooting, including 6-of-11 shooting from behind the arc.
Bryce Alford finished the game with 27 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the three-point line. That is a UCLA school record for three-pointers in a game!!!
FINAL SCORE: UCLA 60 SMU 59
Heartbreaking loss for the SMU Mustangs. UCLA goes on an 8-0 run with 1:26 left in the game. Bryce Alford made a ton of big shots to help this team win.
It's tough to really see if it's goaltending but it's not a reviewable play so the call stood
2nd half (0:00) SMU couldn't make a shot to win the game. UCLA wins a close one!
2nd half (0:10) Bryce Alford shot an off balanced three pointer and it looked off the mark but a SMU player touched as it glanced the rim and they called goaltending! WOW! UCLA up one with 10 seconds!!!
SMU 59 UCLA 57
UCLA Timeout (22 seconds remaining in game)
2nd half (0:22) Wow! Big turnover, UCLA got the steal at halfcourt and has called a timeout down 2!!!
2nd half (0:29) Norman Powell gets fouled makes both free throws.
2nd half (1:06) This kid is unreal!!! Bryce Alford with his eighth three-pointer of the evening!!!
2nd half (1:26) Ryan Manuel with the steal and then the slam!!!
2nd half (1:38) Yanick Moreira gets the easy layup after a nice bounce pass in the paint
2nd half (2:38) He's on fire!!! Bryce Alford with a three-pointer, his SEVENTH of the game!!!
2nd half (3:12) Nic Moore was fouled before the break. Made both of his free throws.
SMU 53 UCLA 49
Official TV Timeout (3:12 remaining in second half)
2nd half (3:40) The Bruins aren't done, Bryce Alford drains another three-pointer, his sixth of the game!
2nd half (4:16) Norman Powell ends the drought with a nifty layup.
2nd half (4:33) Markus Kennedy lays it in. 19 unaswered!!!
SMU 51 UCLA 44
17 unanswered points by the SMU Mustangs
UCLA Timeout (5:28) remaining in second half)
2nd half (5:28) Nic Moore once again!!! Hits the long two-point jumper!!!
2nd half (6:14) Marcus Kennedy slams home after a nice pass by Sterling Brown
0 points for UCLA in over 6 minutes
2nd half (7:18) NIC MOORE with another THREE-POINTER!!! SMU with the lead!!!
2nd half (7:46) Markus Kennedy was fouled before the break and they are in the bonus. Makes 1 of 2 free throws
The Mustangs have received life, while the Bruins are fading fast!!!
Official TV Timeout (7:46 remaining in second half)
2nd half (8:02) Sterling Brown just blocked Norman Powell's shot and it glanced off Powell, SMU ball
It's been over four minutes since UCLA scored a bucket
UCLA 44 SMU 43
UCLA Timeout
2nd half (8:25) Yanick Moreira forced the steal and with great effort Ryan Manuel got free and slammed it home on the break
2nd half (8:48) Nic Moore is starting to feel it as he just hit his second three-pointer in the half
The Mustangs are 2-of-13 from the field in the second half and are only down six points. UCLA didn't take advantage of the poor play by SMU
UCLA 44 SMU 38
UCLA Timeout (9:16 remainng in the second half)
2nd half (9:26) Nic Moore knocks down the three-pointer on a broken play.
2nd half (10:07) Yanick Moreira was fouled on the next possession. Missed both his free throws
2nd half (10:22) Noah Allen fouled attempting a shot in the paint. Missed both free throws
2nd half (11:08) Ryan Manuel gets fouled in the paint. Makes 1 of 2 free throws
UCLA 44 SMU 34
Official TV Timeout (11:56 remaining in second half)
2nd half (12:56) Norman Powell is fouled as he drove to the basket. Made both free throws
2nd half (13:26) Norman Powell made the dunk on the fastbreak after a nice pass by Kevin Looney on the break
2nd half (14:10) Ben Moore got the steal, Sterling Brown coverted the fastbreak layup
2nd half (14:30) Markus Kennedy gets fouled. Makes both of his free throws
2nd half (14:56) Kevin Looney gets the offensive tip-in. The Bruins have their largest lead of 10.
Bruins on 8-3 runs going back to the first half
UCLA 38 SMU 30
Official TV Timeout (15:43 remaining in second half)
2nd half (16:18) Tony Parker gets fouled and makes 1 of 2 free throws
2nd half (16:50) Bryce Alford continues his hot shooting with a corner three-pointer. The first bucket of the second half by either team.
Two minutes into the second half neither team has scored and both teams have turned the ball over on several possessions.
The Bruins shot 48 percent from the field and 50 percent from three-point line. The Mustangs shot 34.5 percent from the field and 57.1 percent from the three-point line. Both teams grabbed 17 rebounds.
SMU Mustangs stat leaders at halftime: Nic Moore had 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Markus Kennedy came off the bench for 9 points and 7 rebounds.
UCLA Bruins stat leaders at halftime: Bryce Alford 12 points on 4-of-5 from three. Norman Powell scored 11 points on 3-of-7 shooting and 5-of-5 from the free throw line.
UCLA 34 SMU 30
HALFTIME
1st half (0:03) Norman Powell hits the floater as the first half came to an end.
1st half (0:36) Nic Moore answers with a three-pointer in the corner
1st half (0:51) Norman Powell drives to the basket and draws the foul. Makes both free throws
UCLA 30 SMU 27
UCLA Timeout (59 seconds remaining in first half)
1st half (1:40) Bryce Alford drains his fourth three-pointer of the game!!! He's on fire today!!!
1st half (2:11) Yanick Moreira gets fouled after a steal by Ben Moore. Missed both free throws
1st half (2:53) Yanic Moreira made the layup
1st half (3:19) Thomas Welsh hits the jumper
1st half (3:31) Markus Kennedy was fouled. Made 1 of 2 free throws
UCLA 25 SMU 24
Official TV Timeout (3:31 remaining in first half)
1st half (4:07) Yanick Moreira converts the layup on the strong drive
1st half (4:30) Bryce Alford hits another three-pointer. Gives UCLA the lead
1st half (5:43) Ben Moore gets the steal for SMU. Ben Emelogu gets fouled and make 1 of 2 free throws
1st half (6:33) Markus Kennedy gets the offensive putback. He has eight points in the game.
1st half (7:29) Norman Powell goes back door and gets the reverse slam!!!
1st half (7:43) Cannen Cunningham makes both free throws
UCLA 20 SMU 17
Official TV Timeout (7:43 remaining in first half)
1st half (7:43) Cannen Cunningham gets fouled driving to the basket.
1st half (8:18) Norman Powell goes coast-to-coast and draws the foul as he drives to the basket. Makes both free throws
1st half (9:51) Tony Parker makes a nice jump hook and knocks it down.
1st half (10:21) Nic Moore goes right down the middle of the lain and gets fouled on his drive attempt. Makes both free throws
UCLA 16 SMU 15
Official TV Timeout (10:44 remaining in first half)
1st half (11:12) Thomas Walsh gets the steal, Bryce Alford makes his second three-pointer of the game
1st half (12:09) Nic Moore finds Marcus Kennedy on the break. Kennedy converts the layup
1st half (12:41) Marcus Kennedy stays with his missed shot and gets the tip in.
1st half (13:04) Norman Powell goes coast-to-coast and makes the tough layup while drawing the foul. Makes the free throw
1st half (13:41) Nic Moore hits back-to-back three-pointers to give the Mustangs the lead
1st half (14:12) Nic Moore knocks down the corner three-pointer
1st half (14:38) Kevin Looney misses the bonus free throw
UCLA 10 SMU 5
Official TV Timeout (14:38 remaining in first half)
1st half (14:38) Thomas Welsh gets the block for UCLA. Kevin Looney converts his second layup of the game, plus the foul.
1st half (15:10) Isaac Hamilton hits the a three-pointer, the second of the game for UCLA
1st half (15:47) Markus Kennedy converts the layups, assisted by Nic Moore
1st half (16:07) Bryce Alford drains a three-pointer to give the Bruins the lead
1st half (16:50) Kevin Looney grabs the offensive rebound and gets the putback
1st half (17:48) Cannen Cunningham knocks down the three-pointer for the first basket by either team.
1st half (18:00) It's been a sloppy start to this game as both teams have turned the ball over and reamin scoreless
He we go!!! Game 2 from the South Region!!! UCLA Bruins vs. SMU Mustangs!!!
SMU Mustangs starting lineup: G: Nic Moore, G: Sterling Brown, G: Ryan Manuel, F: Cannen Cunningham, C: Yanik Moreira
UCLA Bruins starting lineup: G: Bryce Alford, G: Norman Powell, G: Issac Hamilton, F: Tony Parker, F: Kevin Looney
UCLA vs. SMU will tip off at 3:17 PM EST!!!
Sixth seeds usually have the advantage heading into the NCAA Tournament, but in recent history it has been more of a tossup. Since 2010, the sixth and 11th seeds have spit their last 20 meetings.
SMU head coach Larry Brown had this to say about his team, “I just want them to worry about how we play. You don’t have a lot of time to prepare for the people you’re playing. So we’ve got to do the things we value and do them well.”
This is what UCLA guard Norman Powell has to say heading into this second round matchup, “I’m not really worried what’s being said. I think this team is taking it as a little bit of fuel to their fire and more motivation to go out and play.”
The Mustangs would rather play half court and attack the rim, while the Bruins would rather speed the pace up. SMU is a team that relies on defense and when they hold teams to under 40 percent from the field the Mustangs are 19-1. In UCLA’s six wins in their last 10 games, they’ve scored at least their season-average of 72 points. It will be tough for SMU to shut down this Bruin offense that has all five starters averages double-figure scoring.
The Mustangs are not a juggernaut offensively, but they pound the paint with junior forward Markus Kennedy and senior center Yanick Moreira. Kennedy averages 11.7 PPG and 6.1 REB, while Moreira averages 11.2 PPG and 6.4 REB. Both players shoot over 55 percent from the field. Junior point guard Nic Moore is a much underrated point guard as he averages 14.2 PPG and 5.2 AST. On the season SMU averages 69.4 PPG and allows on average 59.8 PPG.
The Bruins leading scorer is senior guard Norman Powell who averages 16.4 PPG, 4.7 AST, and 2.0 REB. UCLA’s sophomore point guard Bryce Alford averages 15.1 PPG, 3.3 REB, and 5.0 AST. Freshmen forward Kevon Looney averages 11.8 PPG and a team-high 9.2 REB. The Bruins have five players who average double-digit points, on the season as a team they average 72.0 PPG and allow 68.0 PPG. This team relies on scoring the basketball because they don’t play good defense. Senior Norman Powell will have to lead this team on offense if they want a chance to advance.
This will be the Mustangs 11 NCAA Tournament appearance, first since 1993. In the 10 previous appearances, SMU has gone 10-12 with one Final Four appearance back in 1956 where they lost to the eventual champion San Francisco Dons that featured Hall of Famers Bill Russell and K.C. Jones.
UCLA has a rich history in the NCAA Tournament as they’ve been to 18 Final Fours and won 11 championships in 48 appearances. Last season in Steve Alford’s first season the Bruins went 28-9 and reached the Sweet 16. With some roster turnover the team doesn’t seem to be strong, and in recent memory UCLA has struggled to advance. Since 2009, the Bruins record in the tournament has 4-4; two of those wins came last year.
SMU won the American Conference regular season and conference tournament. Larry Brown’s Mustangs were on the bubble last year and just missed. This season they made no doubts about it as they won their conference tournament. Now SMU is 0-2 against top-25 competition, and you could argue whether they would have made it with their resume as they didn’t beat much top-tier competition. The only three NCAA Tournament teams they defeated were Texas Southern, Eastern Washington, and Wyoming. Their best wins are against Temple who they beat three times, but the Owls didn’t make the field this season.
The Bruins finished fourth in the Pac-12 standings this year. They blew out the USC Trojans in the Pac-12 Tournament, but would proceed to lose to the Pac-12 regular season and tournament champion Arizona Wildcats (31-3). There was a ton of uproar about the Bruins making the field of 68 as they only had one top-25 win all season, and that was at home against Utah. However, this is the same team that lost by 39 to Kentucky, 32 at Utah, and 22 to North Carolina. UCLA also struggled against some of the lesser teams on the road like Alabama (by 6), Colorado (by 6), Oregon State (by 11), Cal (by 2), and Arizona State (by 2). UCLA has played better down the stretch winning 12 of their last 18 games.
The 11th-seeded UCLA Bruins (20-13) with face the sixth-seeded SMU Mustangs (27-6) on Thursday, March 19, 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky. They are placed in the South Region and will play the winner of the UAB vs. Iowa State game.