Sports - Local Colleges - Washington State

POSTED: Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009

Bruins hope to continue dominance over Cougars

The 20th-ranked UCLA Bruins will try remain in the mix for the Pac-10 title today, as they welcome the Washington State Cougars to Pauley Pavilion.

In a crucial battle on Thursday night, the Bruins topped 22nd-ranked Washington, 85-76, to make the Pac-10 race all the more tighter. The win not only put a stop to a short two-game slide, but is also left UCLA just a half- game back of Washington for first place at 9-4. The Bruins are one of four Pac-10 teams with just four conference losses, and that should make for an exciting finish. Winners of 14 of 15 home games this season, UCLA should have plenty of confidence heading into today's bout.

As for WSU, it enters the tilt on the decline having dropped two straight and five of its past six outings. The team took to the road on Thursday and was downed at USC, 61-51. It was the fourth straight road loss for the Cougars, who fell to an even 13-13 overall and a much worse 5-9 in conference play.

WSU has also had very little success against UCLA over the years, as it trails the all-time series by a 94-13 count. The Bruins have also taken the last nine meetings from the Cougars, including a narrow 61-59 victory earlier this season.

The Cougars shot a dismal 36.5 percent from the field, including an awful 2- of-18 showing from long range, as they were defeated by USC on Thursday. WSU didn't have much success following any missed shots either, as it lost the battle on the boards, 39-27. Taylor Rochestie guided the team in defeat with 16 points and five boards, and Caleb Forrest chipped in 12 points. Klay Thompson, though, wasn't much of a factor, as he finished with just five points on a mere 2-of-13 shooting from the floor. Despite that performance, Thompson still leads the Cougars in scoring on the season with 13.0 ppg and he is a 42.6 percent three-point shooter. Rochestie is a close second at 12.6 ppg and he hands out a team-high 4.7 apg, while Aron Baynes contributes 12.0 ppg and a team-best 7.4 rpg. Overall, the Cougars are limiting opponents to only 54.1 ppg, so defense is obviously their strength.

The Bruins knocked down 48.4 percent of their attempts from the floor and 8- of-17 from three-point distance, as they picked up an 85-76 win over Washington on Thursday. UCLA also held a 15-4 advantage in free-throw points and that certainly played a part in the outcome. All five starters for the Bruins reached double figures, including Josh Shipp, who led the way with 20 points and five boards. Darren Collison turned in 17 points and five assists, and Nikola Dragovic posted 15 points and eight rebounds. Alfred Aboya notched a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards, and Jrue Holiday rounded out the group with 10 points. On the season, Collison is one of just two players on the roster averaging in double figures, with a team-high 14.8 ppg, and he is dishing off a team-best 4.8 apg. Shipp is next in line with 13.0 ppg and he is shooting 40.0 percent from three-point land. As a team, UCLA has had great success in making shots this season, hitting on 50.2 percent from the field and 39.8 percent from beyond the arc.