In an empty Pauley Pavilion, the Mick Cronin Era began with a somewhat expected whimper. The UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team, playing in their sole exhibition game of the season, looked mostly content exchanging bricked jumpers and off-path passes with the Division II Stanislaus State Warriors.
Then, whether it was the summertime rust finally wearing off or the sudden realization that they were playing a D2 team from Turlock, the Bruins officially awoke with about six minutes left in the first half, when Chris Smith slashed and spun for a smooth finish on a fast break on what would be a 16-2 UCLA run.