It was physical. It was chippy. There were runs. The intensity was high. It felt like a conference game.
Saturday's matinee for UCLA against Colorado provided something no other game provided all season: It had energy from start to finish – from the crowd.
Despite the banners that hang from the rafters, the blue paint that separates the floor seating from the loge, and the UCLA logo at center court, for the first time all season at the Sports Arena, it felt like a home game for UCLA during its 77-60 win over Colorado.
"Yes," Bruins guard Lazeric Jones agreed. "We fed off it a little bit. (The crowd) felt when we were getting runs and they really helped us today. It was really great."
"Our crowd got here today and supported us," UCLA coach Ben Howland said. "I think our players were very enthused by the support of our fans and the students today. That was really nice. I think this is by far the best crowd we've had at the Sports Arena this year."
The crowd of 9,253 was the largest for the Bruins at home this season, including games played at Honda Center.
What the crowd saw in the beginning was a punch straight to the mouth of the Bruins with the Buffaloes, who entered the game in a four-way tie for first in the Pac-12, opening the game with a 9-2 run.
UCLA (12-9, 5-4 Pac-12) responded with a 17-1 run during the first half to take a 26-16 lead. The Bruins hit 6 of 8 from beyond the arc in the first half.
"They came out and they hit some quick, early shots," said forward David Wear, who finished with 11 points. "We knew they were a good team. We just needed to stay calm and stay confident and just executed what we needed to do. We came right back, we started getting stops and then we made a run and we never really looked back after that."
The second half provided more of the same. UCLA knocked down 61.5 percent of their shots, but they also turned up the defensive intensity. The Bruins held Colorado (14-7, 6-3) to eight field goals in the second half and 34.8 percent shooting from the field.
"It was nice because I think it's been a couple of times this year when our defensive intensity has dipped off in the second half. That was good to come out with that much intensity and really talking on defense, getting to our rotations, and not allowing any second shots. That was huge," Wear said.
Since they squandered a 13-point lead at Oregon a week ago, the Bruins have played two spirit filled second halves and been able to close out games. During the past two games, in addition to picking up the defensive intensity, the Bruins have shot 66.7% in the second half.
"That Oregon loss, it was tough loss for us," said Tyler Lamb, who held Colorado's leading scorer, Carlon Brown, to just six points, including a two-point first half. "We went in at halftime and we were up and we were playing good, but these last two games – I think it just comes from us being focused in practice and practicing hard and pushing each other and trying to make everybody on our team better. I think if we can continue to do that, who knows where we will end up."
Brown and Lamb are former AAU teammates.
"I've known him ever since I was in middle school," Lamb said. "I know what he's capable of and he's a very good player. Coach Howland stressed to me that I was going to have to stop him and I tried my best and my teammates helped me when I needed help,"
Saturday's win was a complete team effort with the Bruins sharing the ball to a tune of a season-high 26 assists. It's the highest total for UCLA since they had 29 at Washington on December 31, 2006. Four Bruins scored in double figures, and two more contributed eight points.
"I thought we really were making the extra pass. It's so exciting. It's fun to watch. That's how basketball is supposed to be played," Howland said.
There was a scary moment in the second half when Joshua Smith made a dunk and then landed on the ball. He left the game but did return.
