LOS ANGELES — Pauley Pavilion went dark and a moment of silence was requested.
The jumbotron rolled highlights of former UCLA player Jalen Hill blocking shots and throwing down two-handed jams as a spotlight beamed toward center court where Hill’s framed 24 jersey sat on an easel to honor his death as Hill’s mother, father, sister and family friend looked on.
Hill, 22, died in Costa Rica this past summer.
It was an emotional way to start a noon tipoff against Denver, a game No. 19 UCLA eventually won 87-64 Saturday afternoon, thanks to the steady play of savvy veterans Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Jaylen Clark.
Jaquez finished with 18 points on 9-of-11 shooting in just 26 minutes. Clark led all scorers with a season-high 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting with four rebounds and four steals in 23 minutes. Freshman Dylan Andrews added 11 points, five assists and four rebounds in a career-high 21 minutes.
David Singleton and Andrews started the second half in place of Tyger Campbell and Amari Bailey, despite the Bruins (9-2) leading 44-35 at halftime and turning the Pioneers over 12 times in the frame.
Those 12 turnovers helped UCLA attempt 39 shots to Denver’s 21, but the Pioneers (8-3) did connect on four of six shots from beyond the arc that helped keep the margin manageable at the break. But a UCLA 17-0 run to start the second half, highlighted by a steal and dunk from Clark, created a 61-35 lead and the Bruins never looked back.
UCLA’s defense held Denver to just 10 points in the second half’s first 14 minutes and just 29 points for the half.
McCLENDON GETS REAL MINUTES
Will McClendon saw his first real action after sustaining an ACL injury last year that kept him sidelined. He played just 44 seconds against Oregon last weekend, but didn’t record a stat. Saturday, his presence was appreciated by UCLA fans, who were audibly anticipating his first points as a Bruin.
In the first half, McClendon nabbed an offensive rebound he quickly fired to Clark for a 3-pointer. As Clark’s shot was in flight, McClendon put his hands in the air anticipating a make. It fell straight through to give UCLA an early 12-3 lead much to the crowd’s delight.
Related Articles
No. 19 UCLA men’s basketball vs. Denver: What you need to know
USC’s Caleb Williams, Tuli Tuipulotu named Pac-12 players of the year
Pac-12 MBB power ratings: Initial NET rankings reflect loads of non-conference losing
Game Day: UCLA women’s soccer team shows the world
Swanson: UCLA women’s soccer rallies, beats North Carolina for NCAA title
McClendon shot a corner 3-pointer in the second half that was just off the mark, prompting a huge gasp from the crowd. The fans finally got their chance to erupt when McClendon’s fourth shot attempt was good from beyond the arc with 5:54 left to give UCLA a 79-50 lead.
The redshirt freshman finished the game with three points on 1-of-6 shooting, two rebounds and an assist in 12 minutes.
UCLA will next travel to the East Coast for much tougher matchups at No. 13 Maryland on Wednesday and against No. 16 Kentucky on Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York.
More to come on this story …