Dave Roberts tossed T-shirts to fans. The students were back out in bunches. UCLA traded in its recent first-half troubles for a big lead.
It was sort of fun to be a Bruin again Saturday at Pauley Pavilion.
On an evening the team honored Roberts, the Dodgers manager and former Bruins outfielder who triumphantly hoisted the World Series championship trophy over his head during a timeout as fans roared, it was possible to forget about UCLA’s troubles for a few hours.
The Bruins’ 67-55 victory over Maryland was a needed reprieve for a team aching over its seasonlong defense, not to mention a two-game losing streak that was comfortably snapped despite the Terrapins grabbing one offensive rebound after another.
Maryland (7-9, 0-5) finished with an absurd 20 offensive rebounds in all, leading to 24 second-chance points, and it still wasn’t enough to make the final minutes a worry for UCLA (11-5, 3-2) after a 6-0 push put the game away.
Forward Eric Dailey Jr. ensured that things didn’t go awry for the Bruins, nearly logging a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds. Trent Perry (16 points, six rebounds) hit a clutch corner three-pointer with a little less than six minutes left after Maryland had closed to within five points.
Maryland’s inability to make baskets — the Terrapins shot 30.3% overall and 18.2% from three-point range — was forced in part by some active defense, notably from UCLA’s Steven Jamerson II. The backup center had perhaps his best across-the-board showing as a Bruin, finishing with eight points, five rebounds, three assists, two blocks and one steal in 22 minutes.
His top highlight came on an offensive rebound that he snagged as he was falling out of bounds but saved by flinging a pass to Perry for a three-pointer. UCLA would have won with even greater ease had it not made just 18 of 27 free throws (67%).
There were moments it was easy to forget the Bruins were playing without guard Skyy Clark (hamstring) and forward Brandon Williams (lower-leg injury). Both players were considered day to day, meaning they could return soon.
Maryland could relate to being shorthanded. The Terrapins were missing star center Pharrel Payne, who remained sidelined with a knee injury. Forward Elijah Sanders led Maryland with 17 points.
It wasn’t nearly enough given the Bruins looked a bit more like the team they need to be.
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