Preview: UC Riverside at No. -- UCLA

LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — The UCLA Bruins, riding a three-game winning streak, will host the UC Riverside Highlanders in a nonconference men’s basketball matchup on Tuesday, Dec. 23, at Pauley Pavilion.

UCLA (9-3) enters the contest following a dominant 108-87 victory over Cal Poly on Friday. The Bruins’ offense has been potent, averaging 88.5 points during their current streak. Forward Tyler Bilodeau has been a consistent force, scoring 24 points in the win over Cal Poly and averaging 20.2 points over his last five games. He is complemented by guard Skyy Clark, who erupted for 30 points last outing, and point guard Donovan Dent, who notched a double-double with 16 points and 11 assists.

UC Riverside (6-7) looks to rebound from a 92-78 road loss at Saint Thomas (Minn.) on Saturday. The Highlanders have struggled away from home, posting a 2-6 record in road and neutral-site games. Their success often hinges on the play of forward Osiris Grady, who leads the team with 21 points in the recent loss. Grady has been a high-minute workhorse, averaging 35.1 minutes per game, but his production has fluctuated against higher-level competition.

The Highlanders’ defense, which allowed 100 points in a lopsided loss at BYU on Dec. 13, will face a significant test against a UCLA offense that shoots 49.8% from the field. UC Riverside has shown resilience, however, with close road wins at Cal Poly and San Diego this season.

This game marks the final nonconference tune-up for both teams before league play begins in January. UCLA will embark on a rigorous Big Ten schedule, while UC Riverside opens Big West Conference action.

Tuesday’s game is scheduled for a 8 p.m. PST tipoff. The Bruins hold a 6-0 all-time record against the Highlanders, with the last meeting an 88-78 UCLA victory in December 2021.