University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA Hosts Arizona State
January 4, 1999
UCLA -- Steve Lavin's UCLA Bruins, 9-2 overall, 1-0 in the Pac-10 and ranked this week No. 8 by USA Today/ESPN and No. 10 (last week) by AP, on Monday, Jan. 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion host Rob Evans' Sun Devils from Arizona State in a Pacific-10 conference game. On Saturday, Jan. 2, the Bruins beat No. 6 Arizona, 82-75, in Pauley and Arizona State lost to USC, 72-70 at the Sports Arena. ASU is 8-5 overall and 0-1 in the Pac-10.
After today's game with Arizona State, the Bruins this week travel to the Oregon schools--on Thursday, Jan. 7, the Bruins will play at Oregon State (7:05 p.m.; TV-Fox Sports West 2; Radio- XTRA Sports 1150AM) and on Saturday, Jan. 9, UCLA will play at Oregon (5:30 p.m.; Radio-XTRA Sports 1150AM).
Bruins' Last Game -- On Saturday, Jan. 2, the No. 10 Bruins opened the 1999 Pac-10 campaign on a highly successful note, beating defending league champion (No. 6) Arizona, 82-75, before 11,453 in Pauley Pavilion. With a starting lineup of Sean Farnham and Rico Hines at the forwards, Travis Reed at center and Baron Davis and Earl Watson at the guards (it was UCLA's ninth different starting lineup in 11 games), the Bruins jumped out to a 13-4 lead (16:13 left in the first half), led 40-24 at halftime and led by as much as 22 points (59-37, 12:47) in the second-half. Arizona did close the gap to 80-75 with 20 seconds left to play, but UCLA scored the final two points of the game for the victory.
The Bruins had four players in double players, led by Jerome Moiso's game-high 21 points and eight rebounds and Baron Davis' season-high 20 points and six assists. The Wildcats were led by Jason Terry's 19 points.
The Bruins shot 50.0 from the field, 22.2 (4-18) from three-point range and 66.7 (20-30) from the foul line, with 31 rebounds, a season-low 12 turnovers and a season-high eight blocked shots. Arizona shot 37.7 from the field, 30.8 (4-13) from three-point range and 67.6 (an opponent season-high 25-37) from the foul line, with an opponent season-high 48 rebounds, 16 turnovers and an opponent season-low four steals.
Bruin Head Coach Steve Lavin -- In his third season as Bruin head coach and eighth on the UCLA staff, Lavin has a school and career record of 57-19, (75.0, 76 games). He's 4-0 vs. ASU.
Beginning -- After 11 games, UCLA is 9-2 to start the 1998-99 season. Last year, the Bruins were also 9-2 after the first 11 games. Since losing to Kentucky, 66-62, in the third-place game at The Puerto Rico Shootout on Nov. 28, the Bruins have won seven games in a row.
Defense/Rebounding -- Have been a big factor in UCLA's success this season. Seven of UCLA's 11 opponents have scored 67 or less points for a 6-1 record (the fewest points were 56 by American U. and the loss was to Kentucky). The Bruins are 6-1 (loss was to Kentucky, 39.2) when holding opponents to under 40.0 from the field (including 37.7 by Arizona). UCLA is 6-0 when outrebounding opponents.
Special Stats -- The Bruins are 5-0 when scoring 80 or more points. Only one Bruin opponent (CS Northridge, 97) has scored over 80 points and UCLA is 8-2 with opponents scoring under 80 (losses to Maryland, 70-54 and Kentucky, 66-62). UCLA is 7-1 when leading at the half. The Bruins are 5-0 when shooting 50% or higher from the field and 9-0 when outshooting their opponents. UCLA is 8-0 when leading with five minutes left to play.
Jerome Moiso -- UCLA's leading scorer (14.0) and rebounder (6.8), he came off the bench vs. Arizona to play 30 minutes and recorded a game-high 21 points (7-11, 1-2, 6-8), a team-high eight rebounds (4-4), a season-high three assists, one blocked shot and just one turnover. He has led the Bruins in scoring four times this year (including the last two games) and in rebounding on five occasions. He has scored over 20 points the last two games (21 vs. Arizona and LMU) and is also averaging 9.5 rebounds in those contests.
Earl Watson -- UCLA's second-leading scorer (13.1), fourth-leading rebounding (4.2), leader (total number) in assists (4.6) and steals (1.8) and team-leader in free throw percentage (73.3). Watson started his 44th consecutive game vs. Arizona, playing 34 minutes, with 13 points (his sixth straight double-figure scoring game), three rebounds, assists and steals and a season-high tying one blocked shot and just three turnovers.
JaRon Rush -- UCLA's third-leading scorer (11.1) and rebounder (4.8), Rush was suspended for the Arizona game for reporting late to Los Angeles after the holiday break. While still in Kansas City, Rush cited homesickness as the reason for reporting late, he missed two practices and UCLA's win over LMU before reporting to Los Angeles on Dec. 30. He will be available for tonight's game vs. ASU.
Baron Davis -- Since playing his first game on Dec. 2, Davis just keeps getting better and stronger while recuperating from left knee surgery last April. He's UCLA's fourth-leading scorer (10.0) and is the team-leader (average) in both assists (5.6) and steals (2.0). He's played in seven games (missed UCLA's first four games because of the knee) and started the last six games (UCLA is 6-0 in those contests). He's also scored in double figures the last three games. Vs. Arizona, Davis started and played a season-high 34 minutes, scoring a season-best 20 points (6-12, 1-5, 7-8), with six assists, two steals, a season-high tying one blocked shot and just two turnovers.
Dan Gadzuric -- Although slowed this season with recurring tendinitis in both knees, Gadzuric is UCLA's No. 5 scorer (9.0), No. 2 rebounder (4.9) and leads the team in field goal percentage (62.1). He's scored in double figures the last three games. Against Arizona, Gadzuric came off the bench to play 19 minutes, with 10 points (including 5-6 from the field), two rebounds, one assist, three blocked shots, two steals and just one turnover.
Travis Reed -- He's averaging 8.9 points and 4.1 rebounds and shooting 58.3 from the field and 60.9 from the foul line. Reed has started the last two games. Played 22 minutes vs. Arizona, scoring four points, with two rebounds, a season-high tying one blocked shot and just one turnover.
Matt Barnes -- Barnes is averaging 5.6 points and 3.7 rebounds. While home over the holidays, he sprained his right knee and ankle while playing basketball. He came off the bench vs. Arizona to play only six minutes (season-low), with two points, three rebounds, a season-high one blocked shot and just one turnover.
Ray Young -- Young, who has been fighting the flu since coming back from the holidays, is averaging 5.5 points and 2.6 rebounds, and leads the Bruins in three-point shooting (53.3, 8-15). Came off the bench to play nine minutes vs. Arizona, with three points and rebounds and one assist.
Ryan Bailey -- Averaging 4.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.0 steals. Came off the bench to play 22 minutes (second-highest total of the season) vs. Arizona, with four points, two rebounds and one assist and steal.
Rico Hines -- Hines is averaging 3.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists. He's started the last three games. Vs. Arizona, he played 17 minutes, with three points and rebounds and two assists.
Brandon Loyd -- Averaging 2.2 points. Loyd has been slowed all season with injuries (two sprained ankles) and illness (came back from the holidays with the flu). He's only played in four of UCLA's 11 games and has not played since CS Northridge on Dec. 19.
Sean Farnham -- A walkon, Farnham's significant minutes have increased this season. He's played in eight of 11 games this year and got the first start of his career on Saturday vs. Arizona and helped get the Bruins out to a 13-4 lead. Vs. the Wildcats, Farnham played seven minutes, with two points.
Todd Ramasar -- Came back from the holidays with the flu. He's appeared in five games this year but has not played since Dec. 19 vs. CS Northridge.
Billy Knight -- Has been slowed all year with a severe groin pull and will redshirt this year (he has not appeared in a game this season).
Tonight's Game
UCLA (9-2, 1-0)* vs. Arizona State (8-5, 0-1) F-22 Rico Hines (6-4, So.) F- 4 Bobby Lazor (6-9, Sr.) F-30 Sean Farnham (6-5 1/2, Jr.) C-24 Mike Batiste (6-8, Sr.) C-13 Travis Reed (6-7, So.) G- 5 Eddie House (6-1, Jr.) G-5 Baron Davis (6-2 1/2, So.) G-12 Kenny Crandell (6-4, Fr.) G-25 Earl Watson (6-0, So.) G-13 Alton Mason (6-2, So.) *Starters from Arizona game
ASU Head Coach Rob Evans - In his first season at ASU. Came to Tempe from Mississippi, where he was the head coach from 1993-98. In his last two years at Ole Miss, the Rebels won consecutive Southeastern Conference West Division titles, had two seasons of 20 or more wins and two appearances in the NCAA Tournament. An outstanding college player at New Mexico State from 1966-68, Evans was a senior in 1968 when the Aggies lost to UCLA, 58-49, in a second-round NCAA Tournament game in Albuquerque.
ASU's Last Game - On Saturday in the Sports Arena, Arizona State lost to USC 72-70. The Sun Devils led by 18 points in the first half and 38-29 at halftime, but were outscored 43-32 in the second-half. ASU had four players in double figures, led by Bobby Lazor's 19 points and eight rebounds.
Series History - UCLA leads it 41-9 and have won 19 straight over the Sun Devils. ASU last defeated UCLA, 93-86, in 1989 at Tempe. ASU's last win in Pauley was in 1987, 67-64, when former Bruin great Steve Patterson was ASU's head coach.