LOS ANGELES-Monday, Southern Utah men’s basketball (2-1) ensues in its Maui on the Mainland series by visiting famed Pauley Pavilion to take on the UCLA Bruins (3-0).

Under head coach Todd Simon (38-64, .373 at SUU) the Thunderbirds are making strides in his fourth season, having upset Nebraska 79-78 in double overtime November 9 before falling to BYU 68-63 November 13.

The Thunderbirds are averaging 84 points per game this season, tying them for 41st nationally with Bowling Green, Duke, Georgia Southern, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana Tech and Western Kentucky.

Redshirt senior forward Dwayne Morgan (13.7 points, 5.7 rebounds per game) is SUU’s overall statistical leader. Morgan is also the Thunderbirds’ leader in blocked shots (4) and steals (7).

Junior guard John Knight III (12.7 point per game), junior guard Dre Marin (11.3 points, 3.7 rebounds per game), redshirt senior guard/forward Cameron Oluyitan (10 points 6 rebounds per game, a team-best 8 assists) and senior forward Andre Adams (10 points, a team-best 7 rebounds per game) also score in double figures for the high-scoring Thunderbirds.

SUU’s scoring defense surrenders 70.7 points per game, tying them for 219th nationally with Southern Mississippi.

The resurgent Bruins are led by new head coach Mick Cronin who is 368-171 (.683) as a head coach in men’s college basketball. Prior to coming to UCLA, Cronin had stints at Murray State (2003-2006) and Cincinnati (2006-2019).

The Bruins are tied for 190th in scoring offense nationally (72.3 points per game) with Youngstown State, Holy Cross and Pennsylvania.

Junior guard Chris Smith (14 points, 7 rebounds per game) is UCLA’s statistical leader. Redshirt senior guard Prince Ali (12 points, 3.3 rebounds) and redshirt sophomore forward/center Jalen Hill (11.7 points, 8.3 rebounds) are also solid for UCLA early on. Ali also has a team-best 8 steals and Hill has 5 blocked shots on the season to lead the squad.

Redshirt freshman guard Tyger Campbell (10.7 points per game; a team-best 15 assists) and redshirt sophomore forward Cody Riley (10.3 points) also score in double figures for the Bruins.

Defensively, UCLA gives up 60 points per game, tying them for 57th nationally with Stetson and DePaul. The Bruins’ 180 net points surrendered on the season through three games is the stingiest the Bruins have been to start a season since 2013-14.

This game commemorates the first time that SUU and UCLA have met on the hardwood.