The UCLA Bruins return home from Hawaii in search of their first win against a Division I opponent this season, hosting the Pepperdine Waves at the Los Angeles Sports Arena. The Bruins have beaten the Waves in their last three meetings.
UCLA had four days off over Thanksgiving weekend after playing three games in three days in the Maui Invitational Tournament. The Bruins (1-4) picked up their only win of the season last Monday, a 92-60 victory over the Division II Chaminade Silverswords.
Guard Jerime Andersen leads the Bruins in scoring so far this season at 13.8 points per contest, including scoring 46 points in the last three games after being inserted into the starting lineup. Travis Wear is the only other Bruin to average double figures in points this season, at 10.4 per game. Wear cut his foot while snorkeling in Hawaii on Thanksgiving Day, but is expected to play Monday night.
Center Joshua Smith has shot 65.5% from the field this season, but has been limited to just 18.2 minutes per game thanks to foul trouble, averaging 3.6 fouls per game. Smith had a combined 13 points and six rebounds in 32 minutes over his last two games, while getting called for nine personal fouls.
Pepperdine (3-2) is led by senior forward Taylor Darby, who at 12.0 points per game is the only player on the team averaging in double figures so far this season. Senior center Corbin Moore averages 8.4 points and 10.2 rebounds on the season, and was instrumental in the Waves' 70-64 win at Texas-San Antonio on Saturday, hitting a game-tying three-pointer in the closing seconds of regulation.
Notes
UCLA leads the all-time series with Pepperdine 17-4, including a 79-69 victory in the 2010 NIT Season Tip-Off at Pauley Pavilion. Bruins broadcaster and former scorer extraordinaire Don MacLean was a teammate of Pepperdine head coach Marty Wilson at Simi Valley High School.
Monday night's 8 p.m. PST game will be televised by Prime Ticket, with Joel Meyers, Don MacLean, and Courtney Jones on the broadcast. For more UCLA basketball news and information, be sure to read Bruins Nation.