Mata Finally Playing, Is Still Learning Plenty

As debuts go, it wasn’t memorable for game-changing plays, dunks or fancy passes. Lorenzo Mata got one rebound, one blocked shot and the chance to rid himself of those freshman nerves. Now he’s one of the Bruins.

“It was hard, real hard,” Mata said Saturday after playing in his first regular-season collegiate game. As part of a highly regarded four-man freshman class, Mata fidgeted on the bench for two games as he recovered from a sprained left ankle.

Mata was the first player from South Gate High to earn a Division I college scholarship so he was particularly eager to get his UCLA career going. The 6-foot-8 center had never before sprained an ankle. “So I couldn’t believe I did it, in the last practice before our opener,” Mata said. “I didn’t like watching.”

What Mata does like is the mentoring he’s getting from Michael Fey, UCLA’s junior center.

“Michael, he’s my teacher now,” Mata said. “I don’t even think he knows it, but I watch everything he does. In practice, I see how hard he works on every single drill and how he pays attention to stuff. In games, I see how hard he tries to do all the stuff the coaches want. He’s a great teacher just because of his attitude and his work ethic.”

Fey, who had his best game of the season in UCLA’s 76-65 victory over UC Irvine on Saturday -- 13 points, nine rebounds -- said he was surprised and honored to hear what Mata had said. “I don’t feel like I’m a teacher,” Fey said. “I’m still working on figuring out my own game.”

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Fey is one of four Bruins averaging double figures in scoring. Senior Dijon Thompson is averaging a double-double -- 14 points and 10 rebounds.... Josh Shipp, the freshman from Fairfax High, had a spectacular action-packed flurry in the first half Saturday -- a three-pointer, a running dunk and a rebound basket -- and pushed the Bruin lead from 15-13 to 22-16.... After the first three games at Pauley Pavilion last year, UCLA was averaging 7,474 fans a game. After three games this year, the Bruins are averaging 6,037.

TONIGHT

vs. Long Beach State

7:30, FSNW2

Site -- Pauley Pavilion.

Radio -- XTRA 1150/690

Records -- 49ers 1-2, Bruins 3-0

Update -- Long Beach State is coming off its first win of the season and has been led by 6-11 senior center Anthony Coleman, who had a career-high 26 points and eight rebounds in the victory over Cal State Sacramento. Coleman transferred from Xavier and became eligible for the 49ers at midseason last year. He sat out all but two games because of a stress fracture in his ankle but now leads the 49ers in scoring (18.3) and is shooting nearly 58% from the field. UCLA has a 9-0 series lead over Long Beach.

Tickets -- (310) 825-2946.