MacLean Scores 41 to Set Record as UCLA Beats North Texas, 99-84

After watching Don MacLean score 41 points in UCLA’s 99-84 victory over North Texas University Friday night at Pauley Pavilion, the losers’ coach, Jimmy Gales, tried to make a deal for the 6-foot 10-inch freshman forward.

“I tried to make a trade for MacLean,” Gales said with a laugh. “I told him (UCLA Coach Jim Harrick) that he could take any two of my players. But he wouldn’t go for it.

“I probably won’t be scheduling UCLA until MacLean leaves. But they want me to come back anytime.”

By scoring 21 points in the first half and 20 in the second, MacLean set a school record for most points by a freshman in a varsity game.

He also joined some elite company in the UCLA record book, becoming only the fifth Bruin to score more than 40 points in a game. The others are Lew Alcindor, Bill Walton, Gail Goodrich and Reggie Miller.

MacLean seemed almost nonchalant after the game.

“I didn’t know how many points I had until the end of the game,” MacLean said. “You can’t concentrate on things like that.”

Although MacLean once scored 52 points at Simi Valley High School, he said he never expected to dominate a college game.

“I never thought I’d ever score 40.” MacLean said. “I don’t feel I was doing anything different, but the ball just kept falling in.”

MacLean hit 16 of 21 shots and made 9 of 11 free throws. He also had 10 rebounds.

“MacLean makes his open shots and he makes his foul shots,” Harrick said. “He’s always around the ball.”

Forward Trevor Wilson had 20 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists for the Bruins. Guard Pooh Richardson added 14 points and 8 assists, and Darrick Martin had 8 points and 4 assists.

“Trevor and I have played together since the summer, and we really play well together,” Mac- Lean said. “I was pleased that he kept geting me the ball in the first half. He could have said ‘forget this’ and shot the ball himself, but he didn’t.”

Coming off a 91-90 loss to UC Irvine, the Bruins (7-2) played a North Texas team that is now 3-6.

Were the boys from Denton, Tex., awed in their first game against UCLA?

“My guys might not have been intimidated by UCLA, but I was,” Gales said. “I had chills when I came in and saw those (NCAA championship) banners. The ghosts hit me.”

The Eagles disappeared a little later.

Bruin Notes

Don MacLean’s 41 points were the second-most points by a UCLA forward. Reggie Miller had 42 in a 99-86 victory over Louisville in 1987. . . . Darrick Martin, UCLA’s first guard off the bench, started the second half in place of Kevin Walker. Walker, who has been bothered by a blister on the bottom of his left foot, has been in a shooting slump. He scored just 4 points against UC Irvine and 6 against North Texas. He made just 3 of 11 shots Friday night.

Guard Deon Hunter scored a team-high 23 points for North Texas, and backcourt mate Ricky Robertson had 18. . . . There was a moment of silence before the game for Ducky Drake, longtime UCLA trainer who died last week. The Bruins are wearing a black heart with the letter D on their jerseys in memory of Drake. . . . UCLA is off until Thursday, when the Bruins play at Oregon.