Box Score LOS ANGELES—Graduate guard Donte Wright tossed in a game-high 23 points, but it wasn't enough as No. 18/23 UCLA put together a second-half rally to defeat South Carolina State 96-68 Friday (Nov. 17^th) at Pauley Pavilion.

The Bulldogs (0-4) shot 42% from behind the arc, with Wright connecting on 6-of-11 from 3-point range. Sophomore forward Ian Kinard hit 2-of-3 three-pointers and added 10 points in the loss.

South Carolina State gave the Bruins all they could handle in the first-half jumping out to a 16-13 lead at the 11:45 mark off a 3-pointer by Wright. UCLA took the lead by as many as seven, 23-30, with 8:11 remaining in the half on a 3-pointer by Chris Smith.

A jumper by Aaron Holiday followed by a dunk by Gyorgy Goloman push the Bruins lead to 13, 36-23 with 4:57 remaining. South Carolina State sparked an 11-0 run off a pair of big shots by junior Jani Raynor Powell followed by a 3-pointer by Wright to cut the lead to two, 37-35 with 1:08 left remaining in the first half.

The Bruins closed out the first-half on pair of baskets to take a 41-35 lead into halftime.

UCLA came out on fire in the second-half to take a 59-44 advantage off a Jaylen Hands dunk at the 14:02 mark.  Hands connected again down the stretch off a 3-pointer and a jumper to increase the Bruins to 20, 81-68 with 3:38 remaining in regulation.

The Bruins' size in the frontcourt helped lead them to outrebounding the Bulldogs 51-30 to secure their third-straight victory.

"We probably played the best 30 minutes of the season, but yet, we hit another lull. They really got a lot of run-outs and easy baskets," said SC State head coach Murray Garvin. "They key stat was the rebounding war. I think we got out-rebounded by 20. You can't do that on this level, especially if you want to compete."
 
"It's been a tough four-game, nine-day road trip for us, but we have to get ready for Central Arkansas on Tuesday. It really doesn't get easier.," stated Garvin. " We have to get stops, and we also have to convert offensively. Also, we couldn't compete in the paint, and if you don't get those stops and convert those baskets, you're going to be in trouble. We just couldn't do that."
 
Sophomore forward Ozante Fields added 10 and Raynor-Powell finished with eight points and seven rebounds, while Damani Applewhite finished with six points and seven rebounds. Despite the loss, SC State's defense forced UCLA to 12 turnovers.
 
Up Next:
        *On Tuesday, Nov. 21 South Carolina State will play their home-opener against Central Arkansas  in the second game of a doubleheader at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center. Tipoff is 7:30 p.m. (ET)
 
For more information on South Carolina State Athletics visit www.scsuathletics.com or call the Office of Athletic Media Relations at (803) 536-7060.