LONZO BALL SCORED 19 POINTS AND IGNITED UCLA'S RALLY FROM A POOR START WITH NINE ASSISTS, LIFTING THE THIRD-SEEDED BRUINS TO A 79-67 VICTORY OVER CINCINNATI ON SUNDAY IN THE SOUTH REGIONAL.
UCLA (31-4) HAD A HARD TIME SOLVING SIXTH-SEEDED CINCINNATI'S ACTIVE DEFENSE IN THE FIRST HALF, UNABLE TO GET SHOTS TO DROP OR GET OUT IN TRANSITION. THE BRUINS FOUND A NEW GEAR IN THE SECOND HALF, BREAKING OUT FOR DUNKS AND DROPPING IN STRINGS OF 3-POINTERS TO QUICKLY PUSH THE LEAD TO DOUBLE DIGITS.
NOW UCLA IS HEADED TO ITS THIRD SWEET 16 APPEARANCE IN FOUR SEASONS UNDER COACH STEVE ALFORD, ERASING _ AT LEAST IN PART _ THE 15-17 LETDOWN OF A YEAR AGO.
THE BRUINS WILL FACE NO. 2 SEED KENTUCKY IN THE SOUTH REGIONAL SEMIFINALS FRIDAY IN MEMPHIS.
CINCINNATI (30-6) HAD NO REAL ANSWER WHEN THE BRUINS GOT ROLLING FALLING SHORT OF THEIR FIRST SWEET 16 APPEARANCE SINCE 2012.