Shootin’ For Bruins Openers Show Pac-10 Capable Of Knocking Ucla Off Its Lofty Perch

If the first weekend of Pac-10 play was any indication, defending NCAA champion UCLA may have to scramble in its own conference.

Take it from Jim Harrick: It might even be tougher than beating Arkansas in the Kingdome.

“I’m real glad this road trip’s over,” Bruins coach Jim Harrick said. “It’s going to be hard.”

UCLA beat Washington 78-70 Saturday night, scoring the game’s final eight points, including six on free throws.

“All year long, teams have been gunning for us,” UCLA’s J.R. Henderson said. “They give it everything they’ve got right down to the wire.”

Henderson, who scored a career-high 29 points in a 78-73 overtime win over Washington State at Spokane on Thursday night, had four of the Bruins’ final eight points.

Washington State is supposed to compete for the Pac-10 title and Washington has been the conference’s surprise team this season.

“This will be the second-hardest road trip in the league behind Cal-Stanford,” Charles O’Bannon said. “Teams will be lucky to win one, let alone two up here.”

It’s a different UCLA team than the one that beat Arkansas 89-78 for the NCAA title in Seattle last April 3. It doesn’t have Ed O’Bannon, Tyus Edney and George Zidek, all playing in the NBA.

Cameron Dollar turned in a crucial performance for the injured Edney in Seattle’s national title game. Against Washington, he didn’t even start because of a torn ligament in his right little finger and a dislocated left little finger.

Toby Bailey, a key player as a freshman with 26 points against Arkansas, was UCLA’s starting point guard against the Huskies and committed 12 of his team’s 24 turnovers.

“After four years of relying on Tyus Edney and Dollar’s hand still bothering him, I’ve got to learn to be patient,” Harrick said.

Henderson had 22 points, Bailey 18, freshman center Jelani McCoy 12 points and 10 rebounds and O’Bannon 10 points as the Bruins improved to 9-3 overall and 2-0 in the Pac-10.

The Bruins’ defense took care of Washington’s outside shooting. The Huskies shot 3 for 21 from 3-point range and were 0 for 7 against UCLA’s zone in the second half.

“They’re big and athletic,” Washington’s Bryant Boston said. “I’m taking a 3 and I have a 6-foot-9 guy coming at me.”

The Huskies (1-1 8-3) lost their sixth straight to UCLA and their 17th in 19 games.

Mark Sanford scored 20 points and Boston added 19, although Boston was only 1 for 8 from 3-point range.

“They’ve come a long ways over the past couple of years and they just keep getting better since the start of the season,” Harrick said.