Monday, March 9, 1998
Bruins can’t pull out season-closer in Pauley
RECAP: Missed three-pointer, questionable charging call cost
UCLA victory against Wildcats
By Emmanuelle Ejercito
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
It was supposed to be a happily-ever-after ending in Pauley
Pavilion to a senior year that has seen all the imaginable highs
and lows that can happen in a college season.
The No. 19 UCLA men’s basketball team played intense, dominating
and at times brilliant basketball for most of the game last
Saturday. The Bruins (22-8 overall, 12-6 Pac-10) owned the lead for
38 minutes and 36 seconds; however, No. 2 Arizona would claim the
lead when it counted – at the end – as the Wildcats defeated UCLA
91-87.
"It was scripted perfectly," senior Kris Johnson said, "but
(Arizona) just put a wrench in it."
The game hinged on a call that could have gone either way – and
unfortunately for the Bruins, it didn’t go theirs.
Down by one with less than a minute remaining, freshman Baron
Davis, who had an impressive game with highlight lay-ups and 16
points, drove down the baseline for a basket. The ball went through
the hole, but the basket didn’t count, because the conference
freshman-of-the-year was called for a charge with 0:49 left.
"I figured if I went strong to the hole that I would get the
call, or it would be a no-call," Davis said. "I thought it would be
a no-call, but the refs made a big call. That was a big call. It
turned the game around."
Senior Wildcat Michael Dickerson’s seven foot jumper on the
ensuing possession would give Arizona (27-4, 17-1) a three-point
lead with 0:22 remaining. Then the Bruins brought the ball up the
court and Davis passed it to Johnson who has consistently hit
clutch three-pointers, most notably during last week’s Washington
trip. But the Wildcats double-teamed Johnson and forced him to pass
the ball to an open Davis in the corner. With five seconds left,
Davis’ three-point attempt went in … then out.
"It felt great, I had a wide-open look. You know I was shooting
it well," said Davis who had already made two three-pointers in the
game. "It’s just one of those shots you always wish you could have
back."
After honoring its seniors before tip-off, a fired-up UCLA
opened the game with a 10-0 run. The Bruins would go on to take an
eight-point lead at the half. UCLA would run up a 14-point lead
soon after intermission, but the Wildcats would slowly eat away at
the lead behind their 60.0 percent shooting and Dickerson’s 22
second-half points.
Arizona took its first lead of the game, with 1:38 to go, after
A.J. Bramlett put back a missed shot. UCLA would counter with a
Johnson jumper 17 seconds later, but that would be the last time
the Bruins scored. And the three seniors, Toby Bailey, J.R.
Henderson and Johnson would have to settle for a loss in their last
home game of their careers before a Pauley crowd of 12,799.
"It’s real special just to be around those guys and play with
them for a whole season," a teary-eyed Davis said. "I just feel bad
because we couldn’t pull it out for them."
However, despite the fact that the seniors ended their
conference career on a losing note, the seniors don’t see the glass
as half-empty.
"I told the guys before we went out there as long as everybody
gives their best effort and leaves it all out there on the court,
I’m going to leave here proud of what I accomplished here and proud
of what our team did," said Bailey, who almost had a double-double
with 22 points and nine boards. "Our team played their hardest, I
couldn’t ask for anything more."
"The three seniors aren’t really tripping off of this," said
Johnson, the Bruins’ leading scorer with 24 points. "It’s sad
because it’s our last game at Pauley and we took an ‘L’, but … we
saw (Saturday) how good we can be and if (Saturday) is not a
wake-up call, then we will never be awoken."
JAMIE SCANLON-JACOBS/Daily Bruin
Toby Bailey goes up for a shot, but is blocked by Donnell Harris
of Arizona.