UCLA makes sure it's not sweet for 16, MVSU Delta Devils

Photo: Mississippi Valley State University head basketball coach James Green.

Josh Shipp wasn't apparent, Darren Collison didn't score in the first half, Kevin Love played with intelligent caution and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute didn't play at all, not that it mattered on this first night of the 2008 tournament basketball for UCLA.

The top-seeded Bruins coasted to a 70-29 win over 16th-seeded Mississippi Valley State on Thursday night in the first round of the NCAA West Regional at the Honda Center. The Bruins (32-3) will play ninth-seeded Texas A&M (25-10) in the second round Saturday. The Aggies beat eighth-seeded Brigham Young, 67-62.

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Highlights: The 29 points scored by the Delta Devils was the lowest total in a NCAA Tournament game since college basketball began using a shot clock in 1985.

UCLA held Mississippi Valley State to just 19.7 percent shooting from the field and 7.1 percent from 3-point range.

The Bruins had 6 blocked shots in the first five minutes and finished with 13 overall, one shy of tying the record for a single NCAA Tournament game.

Coach Ben Howland pulled his UCLA starters from the game midway through the first half and played reserves the rest of the way.

Larry Cox led the Delta Devils (17-16) with seven points.