UCLA Basketball: Bruins End 5-Game Losing Skid, Beat ASU In Regular Season Finale
UCLA Bruins sophomore center Adem Bona notched a dominant 20-point, 12-rebound double-double effort in powering the Blue and Gold to a 59-47 home victory over the Arizona State Sun Devils, ending the Bruins' losing streak at five games to close out the 2023-24 regular season on (semi) positive note.
The Sun Devils actually led the Bruins in the early offing, and were up 32-27 at the end of the first half.
In the second, Bona and junior transfer Lazar Stefanovic got to work, helping propel UCLA to a 32-16 scoring advantage to swing the lead to the Bruins for good.
Bona recorded his 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the floor and a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe, while also notching four steals and two dimes (against six turnovers, but hey, nobody's perfect). He looked far more authoritative and assertive than he has for much of the season.
Stefanovic wrapped up with 16 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field (5-of-6 from long range) and 1-of-2 from the foul line, six assists, three rebounds and one steal.
Guard Dylan Andrews scored 12 points on 4-of-13 shooting from the floor (3-of-7 from distance) and 1-of-2 from the charity stripe, six assists, two rebounds and one swipe. Andrews was the man responsible for helping UCLA assume its second half lead.
After this moment, UCLA closed out the contest on a 14-3 tear.
No other Bruin scored more than six points (that was starter Sebastian Mack).
With the win, UCLA improves to a 15-14 finish on its regular season (10-10 in the Pac-12 conference). The club will possess the fifth seed in the Pac-12 Tournament next week. Only the top four seeds will get a first round bye, meaning the Bruins will need to play in the first round on Wednesday.
ASU falls to a 14-17 record on the year (8-12 in the Pac-12).
