Previewing UCLA's Next Opponent, Lehigh

The Bruins will look to improve to 3-1 on the early season when they host Lehigh on Friday.

Nov 24, 2023; Providence, Rhode Island, USA; Lehigh Mountain Hawks guard Keith Higgins Jr. (13) drives to the basket during the second half against the Providence Friars at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images / Eric Canha-Imagn Images

UCLA men's basketball will be back on the hardwood on Friday when it hosts Lehigh for its fourth game of the season.

The Bruins come off a monster win over Boston University, having handled the Terriers, 71-40. They will be looking to build off that win, as they still need to add some padding to mend the wound left from their upset loss to New Mexico last week.

Let's take a look at the Mountain Hawks and what UCLA can expect in Friday's matchup:

The Mountain Hawks have yet to win a game this year. They nearly earned their first victory on Tuesday when they faced Columbia, but ultimately fell, 76-75.

It's been a disastrous start to the season for Lehigh, which has averaged 11.7 turnovers through its first three games. It has also lacked discipline, as the Mountain Hawks are averaging 17.3 fouls on the year so far.

Opposing teams have been able to excel defensively against Lehigh, as the Mountain Hawks have had the ball stolen from them almost eight times per contest this season and have been blocked just over four times a game.

Lehigh is led by senior guard Keith Higgins Jr., who leads the team in scoring with 18.3 points per game through three games.

The Mountain Hawks have two other players who are averaging double figures in scoring so far this year -- sophomore guard Cam Gillus and senior guard Tyler Whitney-Sidney. They are each averaging 11.0 points.

As far as rebounds and assists go, nobody on Lehigh's roster is exactly setting the world on fire, as not a single Mountain Hawk is averaging more than four in either department.

Lehigh has been getting dominated on the boards, as it averages just 26.3 rebounds per game. The Mountain Hawks are grabbing just six offensive rebounds per game.

While it hasn't been efficient, Lehigh has been solid from deep, averaging seven 3s a game.

The program has finished with just one winning season in the last five years and hasn't made the NCAA Tournament since 2012 when it made it to the Sweet 16.

The key for the Bruins on Friday will be forcing turnovers and capitalizing on them, just as they did against Boston.

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