MacLean, Murray Lead UCLA to 127-96 Victory

Junior forward Don MacLean scored 32 points and sophomore center Tracy Murray scored 26 as UCLA defeated Athletes In Action, 127-96, Thursday night before 4,928 in an exhibition game at Pauley Pavilion.

The Bruins made 69.1% of its shots as MacLean sank 13 of 16 and Murray made 10 of 12, including five of six three-pointers.

“I think we caught them probably a little tired,” UCLA Coach Jim Harrick said of AIA, which played its fourth game in as many nights. “We caught them when they were tired and they ran out of gas.”

UCLA made 73.5% of its shots in the second half, building on a 63-50 halftime lead to open a 41-point lead with about four minutes left.

Forward Zack Jones led AIA with 19 points.

Bruin Notes

UCLA’s starting lineup included guards Darrick Martin and Gerald Madkins, center Tracy Murray and forwards Don MacLean and Mitchell Butler. . . . Butler, a 6-5 sophomore, played mostly guard last season. “All along, I thought Keith Owens had earned a start,” Coach Jim Harrick said, “but Butler in the intrasquad game said, ‘Look at me,’ and I have.” Butler had 13 points and six rebounds. . . . Madkins and Martin both had eight assists.

Freshman guard Shon Tarver had 16 points and five rebounds. . . . Harrick expects freshman Rodney Zimmerman, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last week, to be ready for UCLA’s opener against UC Irvine Nov. 24 in the Great Alaska Shootout.

Tynus Edney, a 5-10 point guard from Long Beach Poly High, is expected to sign with UCLA in the early signing period, which starts Wednesday. Edney, who averaged 11 points and nine assists last season, made an oral commitment to the Bruins two months ago. . . . UCLA added about 900 season ticket-holders this season, said Steve Salm, associate athletic director for business and finance.

After the game, Brad Soucie of AIA proposed over the public-address system to Kendra Nichols, who was called out of the stands by Soucie’s teammate, Lorenzo Romar. Nichols accepted Soucie’s proposal. . . . In a preliminary game, Rehema Stephens had 27 points and 13 rebounds as the UCLA women’s team beat AIA, 92-78.