Tyler Bilodeau’s big game can’t save UCLA from loss to New Mexico

HENDERSON, Nevada – Tyler Bilodeau rose for a three-pointer that fell through the net while being thrown onto the court.

The UCLA forward and his team were on the verge of elimination midway through the second half in the first test of the season. If the Bruins wanted to bounce back from a double-digit deficit, they had to start here.

Bilodeau stepped to the free throw line and could have made a four-point play. He missed it. He grabbed the rebound and went back for the putback. That was also wrong.

Bilodeau landed facedown on the court, slammed both hands on the hardwood and let out a profanity.

It was a sequence that symbolized a night of frustration for the Bruins.

No. 22 UCLA was unable to get much of anything it wanted and faltered across the board during a 72-64 loss to New Mexico at the Las Vegas Hoopfest at Lee’s Family Forum.

Aside from Bilodeau, who was a strong offensive player with 23 points on 8-for-20 shooting and 15 rebounds, the sloppy Bruins failed to score baskets reliably.

UCLA (1-1) made just 36.4% of shots while New Mexico hit 51%, exacerbating its lack of touches with 21 turnovers and particularly cold long-distance shooting where the Bruins made just five of 23 shots (21.7). %).

The Bruins made one last attempt after two free throws from Bilodeau put them up 68-59 with 4:28 left.

A steal by UCLA guard Skyy Clark resulted in teammate William Kyle III being beaten under the basket. But Kyle missed both free throws, Clark missed a contested layup on UCLA’s next possession and appeared to absorb the contact, and New Mexico’s Ibrahima Sacko made a layup to extend the Lobos’ lead back to double digits.

Guard Donovan Dent finished the game with 17 points and eight assists to lead New Mexico (2-0) while committing an uncharacteristic nine turnovers.

Bilodeau didn’t get enough offensive support from his fellow starters – or anyone off the bench, for that matter. No other Bruin reached double figures in scoring. UCLA freshman guard Trent Perry made some heads-up plays en route to eight points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals, but it wasn’t nearly enough.

All trends played out against the Bruins early in the second half. Point guard Dylan Andrews committed his sixth turnover and went to the bench. Forward Eric Dailey Jr. picked up his fourth foul and was sent to the bench with his team trailing by 14 points.

UCLA experienced a brief burst of positive developments when a Perry steal in the backcourt led to a Kobe Johnson layup and Clark hit his own layup to cut the Bruins’ deficit to 10 points.

But while the UCLA bench stands and chants “Defense!” Hoping to encourage a bigger run, New Mexico’s Mustapha Amzil made a three-pointer as part of another Lobos push.

The first half was about as bad as it gets for the Bruins. Their defense faltered, their offense was sloppy and their only saving grace en route to a 41-30 halftime deficit were Bilodeau’s nine points and seven rebounds.

UCLA had significant difficulty stopping Nelly Junior Joseph. Bruins coach Mick Cronin used his usual small starting lineup before substituting Kyle as the first substitute just 3½ minutes into the game.

But it didn’t matter who defended Joseph. Kyle, Dailey and Aday Mara all had futile turns against their fellow Lobos, who had 14 points at halftime while making four of five shots. He finished the race with 16 points.

A defense that was supposed to be the Bruins’ strength didn’t live up to its billing. New Mexico shot 60% in the first half. UCLA couldn’t come close to keeping up, shooting 38.5% and committing 10 turnovers while falling behind by as many as 12 points.

A bad start was about to get worse.