UCLA GAME REPORT

FIRST HALF

IOWA STATE 40, UCLA 28

What Happened: Jamaal Tinsley gave Earl Watson a lesson on how to create one’s own shot. Tinsley’s speed and quick cuts across the lane left Watson gasping for air midway through the half. Iowa State seemed to get the shooter’s bounce on every shot, and the Cyclones stopped the Bruins from running downcourt on offense. UCLA had trouble when it had to run a half-court offense. The Cyclones beat the Bruins in the transition game, the half-court game, and on the boards. But the man of the half was Tinsley, who put on a clinic.

What You Won’t Find in the Box Score: How many times did the CBS announcers feel it was necessary to mention that Jason Kapono was wearing a new headband? We got the idea after the first mention. By the end of the half, I wanted them to drop the headband talk and tell me where to find some earplugs.

Winning Numbers: Iowa State made 45% of its shots (17 for 38) and was two for four from three-point range. The Cyclones also scored 24 points inside the key.

Wrong Numbers: UCLA scored only three points in the final 3:59, and that was on Watson’s desperation shot as the half ended.

Leading Scorers: UCLA--Watson, 8. Iowa State--Tinsley, 13 (to go with six rebounds).

SECOND HALF

IOWA STATE 80, UCLA 56

What Happened: The Bruins were tired and had no legs. They could never get their fastbreak going, and never made a run. Iowa State was tired too, but knew it could sit back and milk its big lead. Only one point was scored during a three-minute span of the half, as the game became sloppy and boring. Again, UCLA had no clue how to run a half-court offense, and that lost the game for the Bruins. All the Steve Lavin fans who came out of the woodwork during the week need to climb back off the bandwagon. When the Bruins had to rely on fundamentals and coaching, they came up short.

What You Won’t Find in the Box Score: The Bruins cut the lead to 54-43 with 10:55 to play, then didn’t score for the next 4:12 and fell behind, 63-43. That was the end, as the rest of the half was basically garbage time.

Winning Numbers: Iowa State made 14 of 24 shots in the half, including four of six from three-point range. Tinsley finished one rebound short of a triple-double.

Wrong Numbers: I lost track at one point, but an estimated 312 television timeouts were called during the half.

Leading Scorers: UCLA--Jerome Moiso, 11. Iowa State--Michael Nurse, 13.