LOS ANGELES — In his first game with UCLA, Tyler Bilodeau made a significant impact by scoring 18 points after transferring from Oregon State. The 22nd-ranked Bruins delivered an impressive performance on Monday night, overpowering Rider with a score of 85-50 in their season opener.

Dylan Andrews contributed strongly to the victory, adding 14 points and dishing out six assists. Another notable player was Kobe Johnson, who came from nearby USC, contributing 12 points and grabbing eight rebounds.

On the Rider side, T.J. Weeks Jr. was the standout performer, leading his team with 15 points and sinking a game-high four three-pointers.

UCLA maintained control of the game from the start, finishing the first half on a dominating 10-0 run, leading 41-23 at halftime.

After the break, Bilodeau continued his scoring spree, netting 10 points within the first five minutes to push UCLA’s advantage to 53-32. Throughout the second half, UCLA showcased their shooting prowess, netting six three-pointers from five different players. Andrews’ three-pointer further extended the lead to 78-46.

**Takeaways**

For Rider, while they managed to keep the score close at the start, they struggled to match the Bruins’ remarkable talent as the game progressed. UCLA, on the other hand, introduced nine new players to their roster, including six transfers and three freshmen. They demonstrated their depth, with eleven players seeing action, and all but two of them contributing to the scoreline. Eric Dailey Jr. from Oklahoma State also had a solid performance in the first half, finishing with nine points and eight rebounds despite accumulating four fouls.

**Key moment**

The matchup between UCLA’s towering 7-foot-3 center Aday Mara and Rider’s 7-foot-2 Alaaeddine Boutayeb added an intriguing element to the game. Boutayeb, who hails from Morocco, scored 14 points and grabbed two rebounds, while Mara from Spain added five points and two rebounds during their time on the court together.

**Key stat**

UCLA excelled in most statistical areas throughout the game, but Rider did have the edge in offensive rebounds, grabbing 18 compared to UCLA’s 15.

**Up next**

Rider will remain on the West Coast to take on San Diego on Wednesday, marking the second of a challenging seven-game road stretch to begin their season. Meanwhile, UCLA will head to a neutral-court game against New Mexico in the suburbs of Las Vegas this coming Friday.