March Madness: Lonzo Ball’s second half performance sparks UCLA to win over Cincy
In a contrast of styles, the UCLA Bruins got the upper hand on Cincinnati in March Madness’ second round.
If there’s one player and team that you cannot miss in the 2017 NCAA Tournament, it’s Lonzo Ball and the UCLA Bruins.
Related Story: Duke's season finished following South Carolina upset
The Bruins, arguably the most exciting team in the nation, confirmed that statement on Sunday night as they defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats, 79-67, thanks to a superb second half performance by Ball and his teammates.
This was a colossal match-up between two teams with contrasting styles. The Bearcats like to play at a slow, steady tempo that relies heavily on their aggressive defense and timely offensive production while the Bruins want to run you out of the gym, using their high tempo offense and unselfishness.
More from March Madness
- March Madness 2023: Sights and sounds from NCAA championship game
- Caitlin Clark breaks silence on Angel Reese trash talk controversy
- Jim Nantz replacement: Who will take over as voice of Final Four in 2024
- Twitter reacts as legendary broadcaster Jim Nantz calls last Final Four game
- Everything to know about Jim Nantz retirement from March Madness
The winner of this game was expected to be the team that controlled tempo.
In the opening 20 minutes, Mick Cronin’s team had the edge as they held the Bruins to 30 points, 38 percent shooting and 29 percent from beyond the arc. Ball had just seven points, two rebounds, and a surprising zero assists as he was defended well on the perimeter and was given very minimal opportunities to make plays in transition.
Despite the Bearcats’ three-point lead at the break, the Bruins flipped the game around in the second half. Suddenly, UCLA was making plays in transition, their offense was free-flowing and Ball had a marvelous final 20 minutes.
After scoring zero fast-break points in the first half, the Bruins added nine points in transition. They shot 63 percent from the floor, hit seven threes, and Ball was absolutely sensational, putting up 11 points, nine assists, and five rebounds. Most importantly, Cincinnati’s team only turned him over a single time, limiting their chances to shut down the best offense in the country.
This result just shows that when UCLA turns up the heat, they can beat anyone in the country. The Bruins’ biggest concern this year is not their offense, instead, it’s their defense. But even against the Bears, the Bruins did a solid job against Troy Caupain (nine points on 3-of-11 shooting) and Kyle Washington (four points on 2-of-10 shooting), two of Cincy’s top players.
Steve Alford’s unit doesn’t have to be great defensively but they do need to be good in order to win a National Championship. They struggled on that end of the floor in their opening round game against Kent State but bounced back in nice fashion to defeat a Cincy team that many thought would give them trouble due to their multitude of weapons.
Next: Ranking the entire field of 68
Now, the Bruins will move on to face Kentucky in the Sweet 16 in Memphis later this week. The Bruins defeated the Wildcats at Rupp Arena during the non-conference portion of the schedule, however, both of these teams have matured as the season has moved forward. The Wildcats have gotten their seniors and ‘Bam’ Adebayo more involved in their game plan while the Bruins have gained experience that is valuable for a young roster. This should be one of the best match-ups of the second weekend, especially given the fact that Ball will be on the floor against De’Aaron Fox, Isaiah Briscoe, and Malik Monk.