Perry rides Dent’s encouragement in Bruins’ win

Sophomore takes over the point for injured star to help UCLA beat West Georgia.

- By Ben BoLcH

UCLA'S Trent Perry (0) battles West Georgia's Brady Hardewig. Perry scored 17 points and had nine assists.

(Ethan Swope Associated Press)

As Trent Perry made his first collegiate start, he stepped into a familiar role.

The UCLA sophomore always plays point guard in practice, going head to head against star counterpart Donovan Dent. Whenever they play together in games, Perry has to shift his approach, becoming more aggressive in trying to grab rebounds.

But with Dent sidelined as a precaution because of a muscle strain Monday night at Pauley Pavilion, the Bruins needed Perry to assume the role of lead facilitator.

Finding out that he was going to start only shortly before tipoff, Perry received encouragement from his sidelined teammate.

“He really just said, ‘Keep going,’” Perry said of Dent. “Just kept giving me confidence throughout the entire game. You know, keep going right now, you're the engine and just keep your team moving. Just bea leader.”