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LOS ANGELES -- UCLA sustained several blows in the first half against Cal State Northridge, then delivered a knockout punch in the second half.Thats the way UCLA coach Steve Alford saw it as a poor first half, muddied by turnovers and missed shots, had the Bruins trailing at halftime. The No. 16 Bruins scored 62 second-half points and struck first, early and often as they dominated Cal State Northridge 102-87 on Sunday night.Freshman Lonzo Ball made a 3-pointer and went coast-to-coast with a one-handed dunk to start a span of seven consecutive points by UCLA. The Bruins took a 47-42 lead.How he started the second (half), he was a heavyweight fighter ready to knock you out, Alford said. How we started the first half, we wanted to rope-a-dope. We dont have anybody in our locker room thats Muhammad Ali. They dont understand the rope-a-dope. Theyre too young. We wanted to come out throwing punches first and early and I didnt think we did that. Its not necessarily their fault. Its a learning process.Isaac Hamilton had 22 points, and Bryce Alford 20.The Bruins had 20 turnovers, which was troubling, but used an improved second-half shot selection and made 58.8 percent of their shots compared to just 39.4 percent in the first half.They came in with a chip on their shoulders, Hamilton said. Being ranked, a lot of teams will do that and play hard. What we have to do, and Coach says, first five minutes, you have to throw the first punch and continue from there and let the momentum swing our way.UCLA (2-0) had 11 turnovers in first half, shot 39.4 percent from the field and trailed 42-40.Kendall Smith scored 21 points for the Matadors (1-1). Aaron Parks and Tavrion Dawson each added 18 points.I told the guys, if you believe in yourself and we can play this hard every night and push the ball with this type of energy, were going to win a lot of basketball games, Cal State Northridge coach Reggie Theus said. The hard thing about nonconference games, and we have a really tough nonconference schedule, is that you can play well and still lose. This game was probably won in a matter of 5-8 minutes where it got out of hand for us.Cal State Northridge has beaten UCLA just one time in the 10-game series history, but in the games first 20 minutes it appeared the Matadors could do it again. The Matadors beat the Bruins 78-74 in Pauley Pavilion on Nov. 22, 2000, almost 16 years ago. CSUN would go on to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history that season.BIG PICTURECal State Northridge: This is just what Theus -- the former NBA player and coach -- wanted in terms of a test by scheduling difficult preseason road games. Playing difficult opponents should serve the Matadors well in terms of confidence and better prepare them to try to contend for a Big West Conference title.UCLA: The Bruins took a step backward in struggling against the Matadors for 20 minutes. Their undisciplined play resulted in turnovers and those mistakes must be cleaned up before the Pac-12 schedule starts. The Bruins executed much better offensively in the second half and made the right adjustments.SUCCESSFUL TRANSFERCSUN Guard Kendall Smith, a transfer from UNLV, played well against the Bruins and had 12 of his 21 points in the second half. Smith, who is in his second season with CSUN but first full season, had several fastbreak, uncontested dunks, including two in the first half that propelled CS Northridge to the halftime lead.QUOTABLEThats the mindset weve got to have. I dont know if ... any of our other guys had that mindset to start the game. Thats kind of the mindset you learn. Youre not going to go from one game to the next and score 119 points again and win by close to 40. It doesnt work that way. These are all learning things. Well get it. -- Alford on how the Bruins went from a 39-point win in their first game to trailing at halftime in their second.POLL IMPLICATIONSUCLA didnt do itself any favors by trailing at halftime against Cal State Northridge, but the Bruins pulled away in the second half and shouldnt lose any ground with a 15-point victory.UP NEXTCal State Northridge continues its tough preseason schedule with a second consecutive road game at a Pac-12 school on Tuesday night at Stanford.UCLA has several days off before hosting San Diego on Thursday, the third of four consecutive home games in a friendly stretch at Pauley Pavilion to start the season. George Kittle Super Bowl Jersey . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Dre Greenlaw Super Bowl Jersey . He was followed closely by David Clarkson, donning red, seconds later. Clarksons actions one night earlier, leaping off the bench in defence of Kessel during a pre-season game against the Buffalo Sabres, will cost him the first 10 games of the regular season. http://www.thesf49ersshoponline.com/Youth-Jerick-McKinnon-49ers-Jersey/ . Numbers Game examines the deal that sees Michael Del Zotto and Kevin Klein switch places. The Predators Get: D Michael Del Zotto. Richie James Super Bowl Jersey . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. Robbie Gould Super Bowl Jersey . The recently retired Stern was elected Friday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be enshrined with the class of 2014 on Aug. Greater Western Sydney are destined for a maiden AFL finals berth.Maybe even from finishing in the top four, with some tipping them to clinch the minor premiership.But coach Leon Cameron wont so much as glance past Saturdays meeting with Collingwood, let alone do the maths on the favourable fixtures enticing the Giants towards a potential home final.The competitions youngest club are already third and have a cracking run home featuring just two top-eight rivals in their last eight matches.Those are eighth-placed West Coast, whom the Giants will host at their so far untouchable fortress of Spotless Stadium in round 21, and seventh-placed North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium in round 23.While it makes positive reading for Giants fans, Cameron was loath to label any opponent as less challenging than another.We never talk about whats coming up in two or three weeks, we always talk about whats in front of us, Cameron said.As soon as you start thinking ahead about whether youre travelling, whether you think you might have some easier games - there are never any easier games.Weve got a huge challenge against Collingwood, all we can focus on is that.If wee get the job done we move to our 11th win which moves us closer to where we want to get to.ddddddddddddBut until we get that job done we cant discuss anything else.The AFLs top eight is as tight as ever.Before this round began, six teams including the Giants had 10 wins and 40 points, behind leaders Hawthorn who are clear on 48 points.Septembers finals line-up also appears all but set barring an unlikely challenge from ninth-placed Port Adelaide.The Powers main role now could be in helping to shape the configuration, given theyll play five top-eight sides in their last 10 games, including the Giants in a fortnight.Cameron thrived on the unpredictability of it all.Thats the good thing about this competition at the moment, Cameron said.Port are trying to get into the eight, theyre playing some good footy.And theres eight sides trying to stay in the eight and eight sides trying to get into the top four.I think its just a fabulous year for the competition because its so unknown whats going to happen from game to game. 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