LOS ANGELES (AP) — Johnny Juzang scored 25 points and No. 2 UCLA pulled away in a dominant second half to beat Long Beach State 100-79 on Monday night.
Jules Bernard added 22 points — one off his career high — and a career-high seven assists for the Bruins (3-0). The senior was 8 of 11 from the floor, 4 of 5 from 3-point range, made both his free throws and had five rebounds.
Juzang followed up his 25-point effort in an overtime win against then-No. 4 Villanova last week with his second straight game of at least 20 points despite four fouls. Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 17 points and Tyger Campbell had 15 points.
Joel Murray scored a career-high 30 points and had nine of his team’s 25 turnovers. Colin Slater had career highs of 27 points and five 3-pointers for the Beach (1-1).
The Bruins came out strong to open the second half, outscoring the Beach 28-13 to take their largest lead of the game, 76-58. Bernard had 10 points and Juzang six in the spurt.
That effectively finished off Long Beach State, which never got within single digits the rest of the way playing its second game of the season.
It was a different story in the first half, when there were six ties and five lead changes and the Bruins blew a nine-point lead.
Long Beach State used a 14-0 run to take its largest lead of the game, 28-23 after Slater scored 12 in a row. He hit two 3-pointers as the Beach shot 67% from the floor in the half.
Campbell jumpstarted the Bruins with back-to-back 3-pointers that launched a 25-17 spurt to end the half with UCLA ahead 48-45.
Bernard had 10 points, including two 3-pointers, and scored off a rebound of his own miss. Bernard’s second 3 in the spurt came as the result of Juzang’s defensive rebound while laying on his back under Long Beach State’s basket.
Long Beach State has never won at Pauley Pavilion, though it came close in 2019-20, losing by four points after leading by six with five minutes remaining. The Bruins are 18-1 in the all-time series.
BIG PICTURE
Long Beach State: The Beach returns nine lettermen joined by three transfers, three freshmen and a returning redshirt. Jordan Roberts, Slater and Drew Cobb all took advantage of the NCAA rule in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic that allowed them to return for a fifth year. The Beach is looking to rebound after being hit hard by COVID-19 and injuries last season that saw five or more players miss at least seven games.
UCLA: The Bruins have a chance to go into their game with No. 1 Gonzaga next Tuesday undefeated. They're 7-4 against teams ranked in the top five of the AP poll since the start of the 2015-16 season. That mark includes a pair of wins against top-ranked Kentucky in 2015 and 2016.
UP NEXT
Long Beach State: Hosts Utah Valley on Wednesday.
UCLA: Hosts North Florida on Wednesday in the last of four straight home games to open the season.
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