Both No. 22-ranked UCLA and unranked New Mexico head into Friday's neutral-court matchup in Henderson, Nevada, coming off season-opening wins. They just took much different routes to get there. UCLA (1-0) had little trouble with Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference opponent Rider on Monday, as the Bruins pounced on the Broncs early in an 85-50 blowout. A mostly new-look UCLA lineup clicked immediately. Oregon State transfer forward Tyler Bilodeau led four Bruins scoring in double-figures with 18 points and Southern California transfer Kobe Johnson added 12 points and eight rebounds. Their contributions, along with Louisville transfer Skyy Clark's game-high seven assists, set the tone for UCLA, which is leaning on veteran newcomers along with talented returning guards Dylan Andrews and Sebastian Mack.
No. 22 UCLA ramps up difficulty level vs. New Mexico
