Red-hot UCLA can complete a perfect three-game homestand on Saturday when the Bruins welcome new Big Ten Conference counterpart Penn State to Los Angeles.
UCLA (17-6, 8-4 Big Ten) extended its overall winning streak to six games on Tuesday, upending No. 9 Michigan State 63-61 on Eric Dailey Jr.’s bank shot in the lane with seven seconds remaining.
The Bruins committed only three turnovers in the win, which coach Mick Cronin said sets an important building block for the team’s push over the coming month.
“I told the (team), if we get to the NCAA Tournament and play every game with three turnovers, we’ll cut the nets down,” Cronin said.
UCLA averages 11.0 turnovers per game but has committed nine or fewer in six of its last seven games. Over the last three games — wins at Southern California on Jan. 27, vs. Oregon on Jan. 30, and vs. Michigan State — the Bruins averaged only six turnovers per contest.
In addition to cutting down on turnovers, UCLA has found scoring balance during its winning streak. Eight Bruins have scored in double figures at least once in the past six games, which helped UCLA weather the absence of season-long leading scorer Tyler Bilodeau (ankle) for most of the 65-60 win over Washington on Jan. 25 and the defeat of rival USC two days later.
Penn State (13-10, 3-9) makes its way to the West Coast for back-to-back games. The Nittany Lions bring a four-game losing skid into matchups at UCLA and USC (Tuesday).
Surrendering 48 second-half points to visiting Minnesota on Tuesday doomed Penn State in its most recent loss. The setback dropped the Nittany Lions to 1-8 over their last nine games. Five points or fewer decided four of those Penn State losses, including a pair of one-point defeats against Oregon and Iowa.
“We’re in a funk,” said Nittany Lions coach Mike Rhoades. “(While) we’re in this hole, we’ve got to keep sticking together and find different ways to get out of it.”
Rejuvenating a recently stagnant offense could be one key for Penn State. The Nittany Lions average 81.4 points per game for the season, enough to rank 32nd nationally through games played Wednesday.
During their losing streak, however, Penn State has averaged 68.0 points per game and experienced dips in scoring output each time out.
Opponents have held Penn State’s season-long leading scorer, Ace Baldwin, to 10.8 per contest over the past four games. He has scored 14.1 points over the season.
