BETTER LATE THAN NEVER AFFLALO'S PLAYS IN END LIFT UCLA UCLA 62, ALABAMA 59.Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer SAN DIEGO San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. - UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX guard Arron Afflalo Arron Agustin Afflalo (born October 15, 1985) is an American professional basketball player, currently with the Detroit Pistons. He recently completed a three-year career at University of California, Los Angeles in the Pacific Ten Conference of the NCAA as the starting shooting took shots he normally doesn't and looked lost within the offense, and there were even a few times Afflalo was beaten defensively. Yet, when UCLA's season was on the line, with a disappointing early exit in the NCAA Tournament NCAA Tournament can mean: Men's Sports
Afflalo converted a 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down in the final minute to give UCLA a four-point, then played stifling defense on Alabama guard Ronald Steele Ronald Steele (born April 22 1986 in Birmingham, Alabama) is an American college basketball player for the University of Alabama.[1] He raised his NBA draft profile a lot during his sophomore year. in the closing seconds with the Bruins protecting a two-point lead. Steele's forced 3-pointer was woefully woe·ful also wo·ful adj. 1. Affected by or full of woe; mournful. 2. Causing or involving woe. 3. Deplorably bad or wretched: short, and when Cedric Bozeman Cedric R. Bozeman (born March 7 1983 in Los Angeles, California) is an American professional basketball player, formerly of the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA. Bozeman averaged 1.1 points in 23 games with five starts with the Hawks before being waived in January 2007. emerged from a scramble to secure the basketball, a trip to the Sweet 16 also was secured as the second-seeded Bruins defeated No. 10 seed Alabama 62-59 Saturday in the second round of the NCAAs at Cox Arena . ``I will take my chances with Arron Afflalo guarding the ball against anybody in the country at the top of the key with the game on the line,''UCLA coach Ben Howland Ben Howland (born May 28, 1957 in Lebanon, Oregon) is an American college head coach of men's basketball. He has been the head coach of the University of California, Los Angeles since 2003, and recently signed a contract extension through 2013. said. ``He is so good. When (Steele) hurt us most, is when Arron got switched off of him.'' UCLA is making its first trip to the Sweet 16 since 2002, and will play No. 3 seed Gonzaga on Thursday in Oakland. The 'Zags beat No. 6 seed Indiana 90-80 to advance. ``I tried to win the game, but they crowded me,'' Steele said. ``I wanted to get near the basket, but I got cut off. I had the opportunity to take the 3-point shot, but it just didn't go in.'' UCLA also survived despite a debacle at the free-throw line free-throw line n. See foul line. . The Bruins missed six straight at one point late in the game, and finished 5 of 13 from the line. ``Steve Lavin Steve Lavin (born September 4,1964), a San Francisco, California native is a former college basketball coach and current ABC and ESPN TV analyst. As UCLA head basketball coach from 1996-2003, Lavin compiled a record of 145-78. went to the Sweet 16, I believe, five out of the seven years as coach, including an Elite Eight, so this is nothing new for UCLA,'' Howland said. ``This is the expectation. The standard is set. We're supposed to win every game. That's what everyone is trying to do.'' Point guard Jordan Farmar led UCLA (29-6) in scoring with 18 points and Afflalo chipped in 13, all in the second half. Ryan Hollins made all five of his shot attempts from the field and finished with 12 points. Alabama (18-13) was led by Steele's 21 points. Jermareo Davidson, who was in foul trouble and limited to 28 minutes, and Richard Hendrix (nine rebounds) each added 12 points in the low post. Jean Felix, who scored 31 points in the first round against Marquette, was held to five points. ``We're a team that needs to avoid foul trouble, especially with our key players,'' Alabama coach Mark Gottfried said. ``For us, it probably hurt our ability to score. I thought that Jermareo was playing terrifically. They were going to him, he was confident. I thought that it was a big factor in the game.'' The Bruins spent half of the day swarming defensively, trying to shut down Alabama's strong interior and attempting to slow Steele. UCLA used several players on Steele, but none were as effective as Afflalo in the second half. The other half of the day was spent trying to solve Alabama's 2-3 zone. After opening the game by making its first five shots against the Crimson Tide's man-to-man defense, UCLA was baffled and disjointed in trying to solve the zone in the first half. At one point, UCLA went 1 for 10 from the field and committed three turnovers as an early 8-0 advantage was trimmed to a 21-19 lead. ``It was tough because they're very long and athletic,'' Farmar said. ``You see an opening and make a pass, it's open for that split second but their length and athleticism closes the gap pretty quickly. The second half we did a much better job spacing, helping out the penetrators, so they couldn't make those plays.'' UCLA's biggest lead was 53-45 when Afflalo scored in transition with 8:20 to play, but the Crimson Tide rallied to pull within 57-56 when Steele made one of two free throws with 1:05 remaining. The Bruins had plenty of possessions in which the 35-second shot clock wound down (and committed three shot-clock violations), but none bigger than the one that ensued. But Afflalo did a quick stutter-step, then made a 3-pointer with 34.4 seconds remaining. Steele answered by making three free throws after being fouled by Darren Collison, and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (born 9 September 1986 in Yaounde, Cameroon) is a 6' 8" Cameroonian basketball player who plays for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins in the Pacific Ten Conference of the NCAA. made one of two free throws as UCLA took a 61-59 lead with 18.8 seconds remaining, setting the stage for Afflalo's defense on Steele. Brian Dohn, (818) 713-3607 brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos, 2 boxes Photo: (1 -- color) Arron Afflalo was a non-factor for UCLA for the first 39 minutes of Saturday's game. Then, his 3-point shot and his defense helped the Bruins salvaged a victory over Alabama, sending them into the round of 16 Thursday against Gonzaga. Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images (2) Luc Richard Mbah a Moute dunks during the first half of Saturday's game. Mbah a Moute finished with nine points. Denis Denis, king of Portugal: see Diniz. Poroy/Associated Press Box: (1) STORY LINES (2) NCAA TOURNAMENT |
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