UCLA snaps losing skid, defeats Stanford 92-70 after Alford firing
For the first time in the programs 100-year history, UCLA was tasked with continuing a season amid just having fired their head coach.
For the first time in the programs 100-year history, UCLA was tasked with continuing a season amid just having fired their head coach.
The only thing surprising about UCLA’s announcement that Steve Alford was dismissed as the men’s basketball coach was how quickly it happened following the 73-58 loss at Pauley Pavilion to little known Liberty.
UCLA knew they needed a win as well to stay at the top of standings, but it took overtime and a barrage of three-point attempts to make it happen.
UCLA got out and ran the lanes throughout the game, forcing the Cardinal into 13 turnovers while holding them to 30 percent from three-point distance and 40 percent overall through 20 minutes of play.
It was a night Bruin fans and coach Steve Alford watched their young talented roster play possibly its strongest second half of the season, and then it wasn’t in a matter of minutes.
Coming off a dominant performance against UC Irvine, the Bruins struggled in their Wednesday night matchup against Cal State Bakersfield, nonetheless, still coming away with a 75-66 victory at Pauley Pavilion, winning their last six out of seven games.
All five UCLA starters scored in double figures, even with the Bruins being shorthanded without Freshman guard Jaylen Hands, who sprained his left foot in UCLA’s victory over Wisconsin.