The Long Island University Sharks and the UCLA Bruins meet Wednesday in college basketball action from Pauley Pavilion. LIU is sitting at 0-2 so far this year. The Sharks lost to Pepperdine in their most recent outing. As for UCLA, they’re currently 2-0 and coming off an 18-point win over Lafayette. Check back all season long for free college basketball picks at Sports Chat Place.

LIU Sharks 

Long Island U saw an opener matchup versus Fisk cancelled last week, so their first game wasn’t until Friday against Air Force. The Sharks struggled in that one, notching just 27 first-half points in an 82-67 loss. RJ Greene led the team in scoring with 12 points, while Tana Kopa doubled up on 11 points and 10 rebounds. 

Game two versus Pepperdine didn’t go any better for the Sharks. After a 39-18 deficit in the first half, LIU couldn’t get closer in an eventual 88-53 blowout defeat. Greene topped the team again with a double-double on 14 points and 10 boards. Terell Strickland, Tai Strickland and Andre Washington each scored 10 points as well. 

UCLA Bruins 

Over on the UCLA side, they’ve got a couple of pretty easy games versus overmatched opponents in the books so far. First came a 75-44 win over St. Francis PA last Monday. The Bruins shot a nice 50.9 percent from the field with 32 rebounds and 18 team assists in that one, holding the Red Flash to just 2-of-16 (12.5 percent) from 3-point range. 

In game two versus Lafayette, UCLA was down at halftime 33-30. The Bruins woke up in the second with a 38-17 run and bagged the win in the end 68-50, though. UCLA’s leading scorers were Dylan Andrews (four assists) and Sebastian Machowski (five rebounds), each with 18 points. Lazar Stefanovic added 11 points as well. 

ANDREW’S FREE PICK 

I might take a wild stab on LIU, but in reality I’m probably staying away from this one. The Sharks are struggling right now as they go through a long climb toward relevance. There are some decent young players on the roster, but not enough talent to go around outside of the top four or five players. No one is expecting LIU to get close in this one—especially after shooting just 28.3 percent from the field and getting out-rebounded 52-31 versus Pepperdine. That said, UCLA will probably call off the proverbial dogs early in this one which could lead to some garbage-time production from the Sharks. 

Speaking of the Bruins, they’ve been solid but they’ve also got plenty to clean up after the Lafayette game. UCLA had a 30-30 tie in rebounding, zero blocks and just seven assists in their latest win. This matchup will require even less effort from the Bruins, so it’s conceivable that LIU could eke out a sneaky cover. I’m not touching this game, though.