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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Even with Loren Woods out with back spasms, fourth-ranked Arizona was way too much for the fading UCLA Bruins.
Down to six scholarship players with their 7-foot center on the
bench in street clothes, the Wildcats (23-4, 12-1 Pac-10) shot out
to a 22-point lead in the first half Saturday and rolled to a 99-84
victory over the bumbling Bruins.
|  | | UCLA's Rico Hines attempts to pass around the defensive pressure of Arizona's Rick Anderson. |
"It was more than a little scary prior to the game when we
found out that Loren was not going to be available," Olson said.
"I told the guys that everybody had to step up and we had to try
to use our quickness to prevent the ball from being pounded
inside."
It worked to near perfection in the first half, then the Bruins
were so far behind they had no chance of catching up.
UCLA (13-11, 4-8) has lost six of seven and its NCAA tournament
chances seem to have evaporated in the desert, where the Bruins
were outscored 203-159 in one-sided losses at Arizona State and
Arizona.
"I'm really frustrated and disappointed that we didn't come out
and give a better effort," UCLA freshman Jason Kapono said.
"Coming on this road trip we were pretty confident that we would
get a split, and to lose the way we did the past two games is
indicative of our season. It seems like every game we are falling
behind by a huge margin and it's tough to always play catch-up."
Jason Gardner had 16 points, 11 assists and seven steals for the
Wildcats. He was 4-for-8 from 3-point range.
"He did everything that a guy could do," Olson said of his
freshman playmaker. "He ran the club. He didn't force things.
Other guys could have scored more points than he did today, but no
one could play any better than he did."
Gardner's steals, two short of the school record, came in the
first half, when the Bruins committed 17 of their 23 turnovers.
"It looked like we had seven guys out there on defense," Olson said.
All six regulars hit double figures for Arizona, which has won
six in a row and has a 27-game Pac-10 homecourt winning streak.
UCLA was the last Pac-10 team to beat the Wildcats at McKale
Center, three years ago.
The Bruins lost 104-73 at Arizona State Thursday night.
"After the ASU game, I don't think they were mentally
prepared," Arizona's Gilbert Arenas said.
Arenas scored 23 and Michael Wright 22 for Arizona. Justin
Wessel, a 6-foot-8 forward starting in place of Woods, scored 12,
including 10-of-10 free throws, before leaving when slammed in the
nose with 2:24 to play. Rick Anderson scored 12 and Luke Walton 11.
"All that we've been through so far, this was just another
thing," Wessel said. "I was excited. We just had to lean on each
other, and we did."
Kapono matched his high game with 27 points for UCLA, including
5-of-9 3-pointers, and Dan Gadzuric added 17, 15 in the second half
when UCLA finally got the ball inside to take advantage of Woods'
absence. By then, though, it was far too late.
"We are struggling right now," embattled Bruins coach Steve
Lavin said. "We have lost six of seven. Three of those losses were
to Stanford, Syracuse and Arizona, who are all in the top 10. The
other losses are the ones that hurt the most. We are running out of
rope. Our backs are against the wall."
The Wildcats made 33-of-39 free throws, 18-of-20 in the first
half. UCLA, meanwhile was 6-for-17 at the line.
The Wildcats used a harassing, quick defense to ignite a 17-5
run to build a 34-19 lead with 4:50 left in the first half. Wessel's two free throws capped the outburst.
Arizona outscored UCLA 8-1 over the final minute of the half to
go up 51-30 at the break. Gardner started the run with a 3-pointer
and Anderson scored four during the spurt.
UCLA had a 9-0 run, cutting Arizona's lead to 68-53 on Kapono's
three-point play with 10:44 remaining, but Gardner's stopped the
rally with a 3-pointer. The Bruins cut the lead to 12 in the final
seconds against Arizona's seldom-used, non-scholarship reserves.
Even though Woods didn't play, UCLA's two front-line starters,
Gadzuric and Jerome Moiso, put up just three shots in the first
half. Olson said that was because of his team's tough defense.
"The didn't get it inside because they couldn't," he said.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
UCLA Clubhouse
Arizona Clubhouse
Olson rewards Wildcats with three-day break
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Jason Gardner knocks down the 3-pointer. (Courtesy:ABC)
avi: 717 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Gardner feeds Gilbert Arenas, who finishes with the jam.(Courtesy:ABC)
avi: 541 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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