The UCLA Bruins enter Thursday night's game against James Madison with an undefeated home record.
It is the complete opposite of last season, when the team dropped its first two games at home to Loyola Marymount and Middle Tennessee. The Bruins almost suffered another home-upset on Tuesday night, but were able to hold off UC Irvine for an 80-79 win to improve to 2-0 at the newly renovated Pauley Pavilion.
"We were lucky. That was a very fortunate win for us," said coach Ben Howland to the Associated Press.
The Bruins will look to continue the strong play at home as James Madison travels to in Los Angeles for their first game of the season. UCLA only shot 37 percent on Tuesday and will need to be much more efficient against the Dukes.
The Bruins were able to win despite playing without one of its of its most talented players.
UCLA is still missing its top recruit, freshman Shabazz Muhammad, who is dealing with eligibility issues with the NCAA. The team recently filed an appeal for Muhammad and is expecting a ruling on the matter by Friday.
"At this time, I'm optimistic and hopeful that everything is going to work out," Howland said to ESPN.com. "That's about all I can say. Hopeful is a big part of that."
Muhammad has been ineligible since just before the start of the season, when the NCAA ruled that an investigation showed he received improper benefits by taking visits to Duke and North Carolina that were paid for by a family friend.
He has missed the first two games with the Bruins, including the opening 86-59 win against Indiana State.
"I feel terrible for Shabazz because he is a great kid and has had a phenomenal attitude in dealing with this review by the NCAA," Howland said to ESPN.com. "We were very optimistic that he was going to be cleared today, so we are very disappointed for him. We're hopeful that it's something that is going to be worked out in the near future."
UCLA has been solid rebounding the ball this season, ranking 15th in the nation with 48 per game. Freshman Jordan Adams has been a force for the Bruins and is one reason why the team is still undefeated.
Adams is hitting 50 percent of his shots and scored 26 points in Tuesday's narrow victory.
"As a freshman he has an uncanny ability to put the ball in the basket," said teammate Larry Drew II, UCLA's lone senior. "I'm not surprised by anything he does."
UCLA is playing James Madison for the first time in school history. Last season the team went 12-20, but have returning senior A.J. Davis, who averaged 16 points and nearly five rebounds last season.
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