SACRAMENTO – Freshman Lonzo Ball was sharp in his NCAA Tournament debut, breaking the UCLA single-season assist record in the team’s 97-80 win over Kent State in a first-round game on Friday night in Sacramento.
Ball passed Larry Drew II’s previous program mark of 256 by one after recording three against Kent State. Ball played through a right hip bruise suffered late in the first half and finished with 15 points on 6-for-7 shooting and four rebounds. Drew set the old record in 2012-13.
After jumping to receive a pass, Ball was undercut by a defender and fell hard to the court.