University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
Loyola Marymnt
No. 10 Bruins Roll Past Loyola Marymount, 92-67
June 21, 1999 | Men's Basketball
December 30, 1998
LOS ANGELES (AP) - Despite using eight different lineups in the first 10 games, UCLA coach Steve Lavin feels his 10th-ranked Bruins are ready for the Pac-10 season.
"In terms of scripting the schedule, this is as ideal as I could have hoped for," Lavin said Tuesday night after the Bruins beat Loyola Marymount 92-67 in their final non-conference tuneup.
"We play a mix of natural powerhouses, and some other games where we can play confidently. With such a young team, it's important to develop confidence and testing for a tough Pac-10 schedule."
The Bruins, who have one of the youngest teams in the nation, won their sixth straight even though five players weren't available for the game.
"We've had our ups and downs, and now is the time to be put to the test," guard Earl Watson said. "The good thing is that, in basketball, so many different combinations can play. It really doesn't matter who starts and who comes off the bench."
Freshman Jerome Moiso had 21 points and 11 rebounds for UCLA (8-2), while Travis Reed added 17 points for the Bruins.
Loyola Marymount (4-7), which trailed by 20 points early in the second half, closed to 54-41 with 15:24 left on consecutive 3-pointers by Robert Davis and Rupert McLendon.
But UCLA responded with an 11-1 spurt, capped by Ray Young's 3-pointer, to take a 65-42 lead and the Lions got no closer than 17 points the rest of the way.
Loyola Marymount, playing for the first time in eight days, was led by Willie Allen with 18 points and Robert Davis with 17.
"We just didn't have the killer instinct you need to stay in a game against such a good team," Davis said. "They beat us on pure talent and athletic ability, along with two productive big men (Moiso and Dan Gadzoric) who killed us on the boards."
UCLA played without freshman forward JaRon Rush, who was home in Kansas City on an unscheduled extension of his Christmas break.
"JaRon should be here tomorrow," Lavin said. "He is obviously dealing with something similar to what Earl Watson had last year - a bout of homesickness. I have spoken with his family and with JaRon, and the players have been in contact with him, talking with him the past two nights."
Forward Matt Barnes also was missing from the lineup because of a sprained right ankle and knee. Guards Brandon Loyd and Todd Ramasar had the flu, and Billy Knight remained out of the lineup because of a severe groin injury.
Moiso scored 13 points as the Bruins took a 42-27 halftime lead. He scored six at the end of a 21-5 run that turned a three-point deficit into a 34-21 lead with 5:34 left in the half.
