Big Ten Conference counterparts Maryland and UCLA each look to pull out of skids when they meet on Saturday in Los Angeles.
The Bruins (10-5, 2-2 Big Ten) began the new year with back-to-back league losses on the road. They were unable to complete a comeback from down 18 points at halftime in a 74-61 setback at Iowa. Come Tuesday, they again found themselves trying to rally from down double-digits at intermission in an 80-72 loss at Wisconsin.
“We have to get better at our scouting report,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said. “We got some guys who have to learn how to stay in front of the ball. Basic things, basic things.”
UCLA is holding opponents to 70 points per game on the season, but has surrendered 74-plus points in three of four Big Ten games and given up 80 or more in three of its five losses.
The Bruins aim to regroup at Pauley Pavilion, where they are 9-0 on the season, but may have to do so without Skyy Clark. The guard averaging 13.5 points per game — tied with Donovan Dent for the second-highest average on the team, behind Tyler Bilodeau’s 18.1 — missed Tuesday’s contest with a hamstring injury. Cronin told reporters Friday that Clark is doubtful for Saturday’s matchup.
Maryland (7-8, 0-4), meanwhile, makes the cross-country trek for a pair of dates in California. The Terrapins dropped to 0-4 in the Big Ten with a pair of home losses in their two most recent contests, falling to Oregon 64-54 and Indiana 84-66.
With the two league defeats, Maryland has been held to fewer than 70 points in five of its eight losses on the campaign.
“We’re going to have to shoot more,” Terps coach Buzz Williams said following Wednesday’s loss. “And within that includes more (made) free throws.”
Maryland comes into its Los Angeles swing averaging 74.6 points per game, just 243rd nationally, and attempting 58.5 field goals a contest, 241st in the country.
The addition of Solomon Washington to the lineup has given Maryland an additional offensive weapon, as he comes into Saturday’s matchup having scored in double figures in three straight contests. However, the absence of Pharrel Payne — scoring a team-high 17.5 points per game — looms large.
Since Payne last played on Dec. 13, the Terps are scoring just 66.3 points per game and are 1-3 overall.
