GAME NOTES: The UCLA Bruins close out a four-game homestand to begin the 2014-15 season, as they welcome the Long Beach State 49ers to the Pauley Pavilion for a non-conference matchup.

Steve Alford's Bruins have opened the season with a trio of lopsided wins, taking out Montana State (113-78), Coastal Carolina (84-71) and most recently, Nicholls State (107.74).

Dan Monson's 49ers have split four games this season, with two wins coming at home and two losses on the road. The team was last in action on Friday where it upended Big 12 foe Kansas State, 69-60.

The Bruins have dominated their instate rival in this series, winning 12 of the 13 all-time meetings.

The 49ers shot 54.5 percent from the floor in the first half to take a 33-26 lead over the Wildcats into the intermission. LBSU cooled off in the second stanza, shooting at a .333 clip, but was still able to earn the win at the Walter Pyramid. Branford Jones came off the bench to lead all scorers with 14 points for Long Beach State. Mike Caffey added 13 points to the cause, whole David Samuels recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

A 6-foot-0 senior, Caffey has opened the year on a tear, shooting an efficient .578 from the floor, including .556 from behind the arc to top the scoring chart for LBSU at 18.0 ppg. Former UCLA guard Tyler Lamb ranks second on the team in scoring at 11.5 ppg, followed closely by Samuels and his 10.0 ppg. In all, Long Beach State is averaging 76.8 ppg on a healthy .517 shooting.

The Bruins have jumped out of the gate with three straight lopsided wins thanks to an offensive onslaught. UCLA is averaging a whopping 101.3 points through the three contests and does so on .525 overall shooting. The sharpshooting has extended beyond the arc as well, with UCLA converting at a .467 clip from 3-point range. Guards Bryce Alford and Norman Powell have been a dominant perimeter duo. Alford shoot .556 from the floor and .500 from behind the arc (11-of-22) to pace the team at 21.0 ppg. He has also found the time to dole out 10.7 assists per game. Powell has been equally deadly from the floor and pours in 20.3 ppg. The frontcourt has its own one-two punch in forward Kevon Powell (16.3 ppg, 12.3 rpg) and center Tony Parker (14.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg). Guard Isaac Hamilton (13.3 ppg) rounds out the starting five.

There was no shortage of offense in UCLA's 113-point eruption against Nicholls State. The Bruins shot .559 from the floor and hit 11 3-pointers in the rout. Three Bruins posted 20 or more points, led by Alford's 28 points. He hit six 3-pointers in the win and dished out 13 assists. Powell poured in 23 points, while Parker finished with 20. Looney once again dominated inside, finishing with 12 points and 14 rebounds.

LBSU has struggled on the road in the early stages of the season and nothing should change here against a UCLA squad clicking on all cylinders.