Cronin sounds off after Bruins hold on to win opener despite their porous defense.

It was the sort of postgame rant that Mick Cronin usually saves for a bad loss at a time when he’s trying to swing a season back in the right direction.

- BY BEN BOLCH

JESSIE ALCHEH Associated Press UCLA CENTER

Lauren Betts (51) looks for her shot against San Diego State's Bailey Barnhard, left, and Kennedy Lee (0). Betts scored a game-high 21 points.

This one came after a victory in the season's first game.

That’s how few positive takeaways there were for UCLA on Monday night on its home court.

Having beaten two quality opponents in exhibition games, the 12th-ranked Bruins struggled mightily in a game that counted against a team from the Big Sky Conference.

Most of the problems came on the defensive end.

“There’s so many mistakes,” Cronin said after his team held on for an 80-74 victory over Eastern Washington at Pauley Pavilion, “I’d like to fire myself for our defense.”

UCLA kept getting beat around the basket, giving up 38 points in the paint. The Eagles met so little resistance that they shot 53.7%.

"I mean, if you think you're going to give up 53.7% in your own gym in a buy game and have a good year," Cronin said, "you have no chance."

Eastern Washington's upset hopes lingered until point guard Donovan Dent, making his UCLA debut after transferring from New Mexico, pulled down a rebound and scored on a fast break to extend the lead back to double digits with 30 seconds left.

Cronin said he sensed this sort of showing coming given the way his team reacted to its exhibition victories. The Bruins scored the first 17 points while beating San Diego State on the road and held a 43-point lead on the way to a blowout of UC Irvine.