UCLA Basketball: Lazar Stefanovic Unpacks Thinking Behind Definitive 19-1 Run Vs ASU
Sometimes in a game, everything clicks. That was the case for UCLA on Saturday against Arizona State as they went on a 19-1 scoring run that ultimately sealed their 59-47 win.
So what is going on inside the players' minds as they're on a roll? Lazar Stefanovic offered some insight.
"Just keep playing. Keep playing, keep believing. Not everything went our way throughout the game, but we stuck together and made the shots when it was most important, made our run. 19-1? I didn’t know that. That is pretty good. We kept believing, trusting each other, sharing the ball. If I’m not wrong, we had 16 assists, and when we pass the ball, we shoot the ball well. That’s been the key for our offense so far this year, so if we keep believing, the ball is going in.”
— Lazar Stefanovic, via UCLA Communications.
As Stefanovic said, the Bruins got back to what they're strong at, which included improved passing. UCLA's 16 assists were almost five more than their average of 11.2 per game, with Stefanovic and Dylan Andrews each accounting for six.
Additionally, UCLA's defense returned to form. The defense has been their strong point this season, until they allowed at least 75 points in each of their last three games, including giving up 94 points to Washington. To return to allowing less than 50 points was at the very least a significant morale boost for the Bruins.
This kind of play was exactly what UCLA needed in their final regular season game of the year. With the Bruins coming into this game on a five-game losing streak, they had lost most of their prior momentum from the season. For the Bruins to go on a 19-1 was a great reset, especially with the Pac-12 Tournament coming up.
