The UCLA Bruins showcased their dominance with a commanding 97-65 victory over the UC Riverside Highlanders at Pauley Pavilion. This win improved the Bruins' record to 1-0, while the Highlanders fell to 0-1. The game was marked by an impressive display of defense and efficient scoring from the home team.

Dec 23, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins forward Tyler Bilodeau (34), UC Riverside Highlanders forward Jailen Daniel-Dalton (44), UCLA Bruins guard Jamar Brown (4) and UC Riverside Highlanders guard Andrew Henderson (12) battle for a rebound in the first half at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

First Half

The first half saw the Westwood Warriors establish a solid lead, ending with a score of 45-34. The Bruins' defensive prowess was evident as they recorded 12 steals, disrupting the Highlanders' offensive rhythm. Trent Perry stood out with his playmaking ability, contributing significantly to both ends of the court.

Second Half

In the second half, UCLA extended their advantage by scoring an additional 52 points while limiting UC Riverside to just 31 points. Tyler Bilodeau emerged as a key player for UCLA, showcasing his shooting accuracy with a field goal percentage of 63 percent and leading all scorers with significant contributions in points and rebounds.

Dec 23, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins forward Eric Dailey Jr. (3) and center Steven Jamerson II (24) defend a shot by UC Riverside Highlanders forward BJ Kolly (8) in the second half at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Post Game Analysis

The post game analysis highlights that UCLA's efficiency on both offense and defense played a crucial role in their victory. They shot an impressive field goal percentage of 50 percent overall and dominated in fast break situations with 15 fast break points compared to UC Riverside's seven.

On the other hand, despite their efforts, UC Riverside struggled against UCLA's relentless defense which forced them into committing numerous turnovers—22 in total—which translated into easy transition opportunities for the home team.

Dec 23, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; UC Riverside Highlanders forward Dylan Godfrey (23) and UCLA Bruins guard Trent Perry (0) chase down a loose ball in the second half at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

As part of our detailed coverage on this encounter—UCLA Bruins vs UC Riverside Highlanders full match report—the statistics reveal that Evan Manjikian also contributed effectively off-the-bench adding depth to Bruin’s lineup during critical moments throughout this matchup.

Looking ahead for fans eager about upcoming fixtures: mark your calendars! The next challenge awaits when UCLA travels away from home turf facing Iowa Hawkeyes at Carver-Hawkeye Arena scheduled on January third at six PM Eastern Time broadcasted live via Peacock network online streaming service!

Stay tuned for more updates about your favorite teams; share this article if you enjoyed reading it!

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