Bruins’ stifling defense sparks a rout of Boston

UCLA MEN’S BASKETBALL

UCLA’s William Kyle III reacts after scoring during the first half of Monday night’s victory over Boston at Pauley Pavilion. Etienne Laurent / the associated press

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By Aaron Heisen

Correspondent

LOS ANGELES — UCLA head coach Mick Cronin had projected the Bruins would use a slew of starting lineups this season. The first alteration came on Monday, by necessity, rather than choice.

With guard Dylan Andrews (left groin) listed as day-to-day, Lazar Stefanovic stepped into a group that boasted four players over 6-foot-6. Andrews is a sturdy defender, but the added length caused problems for Boston ball-handlers.

The Bruins forced 28 turnovers and held Boston to 30 percent shooting from the field. In the Bruins’ last home game against Rider on Nov. 4, they scaled back their defensive effort in the second half. On Monday, they continued to hound Boston’s ball-handlers throughout the game in a 71-40 win.

UCLA (2-1) scored 36 points off those 28 turnovers by Boston (0-3). Those transition points, though, largely masked how disjointed the Bruins’ half-court offense has looked through three games.

The ball rarely sees both sides of the court during a possession and the Bruins have yet to find their outside shot, going 5 for 22 on Monday. They tend to default to looking for Tyler Bilodeau posting up, inside, but even he struggled to get it going.

After leading the team in scoring in the first two games, Bilodeau shot 3 of 8 from the field and scored six points. Eric Dailey Jr. and Stefanovic each had 13 points to lead the way.

Stefanovic was the only Bruin with his 3-point shot going. He hit a right-wing triple for the first points of the game and got the Bruins going in the second half with a fadeaway 3 from the corner.

Skyy Clark, the only starter under 6-6, made up for his height with scrappiness and hustle on the defensive side. On one possession in the first half, he dove for a loose ball, failed to grab it, recovered, then switched three separate times before drawing a charge.

His defensive activity has masked his cold shooting streak. Clark is 5 of 17 on the season, but has racked up eight steals. He was additive in other ways as well, hitting William Kyle III on a pass from half-court for a dunk just before the first-half buzzer.

Despite a starting guard in Andrews not playing on Monday, Sebastian Mack stuck to his sixth man role and remained confident in it, coming in and immediately driving for a layup, then knocking down a 3-point shot.

He finished with 12 points.