The UCLA men’s basketball team beat California, 71-52, to win
the Pac-10 Tournament at the Staples Center on Saturday
afternoon.
UCLA (27-6) won the conference tournament for the first time
since 1987 and adds to its regular season title heading into NCAA
Selection Sunday.
The Bruins, winners of their last seven games, dominated the
Pac-10 Tournament, winning each of their three games by double
figures.
UCLA never trailed Cal (20-10), jumping out to an early 16-point
lead in the first half. The Bears closed out the half with a 13-0
run that brought them within three, but the Bruins’ defense never
allowed the game to get any closer. Tournament MVP Leon Powe, who
set conference tournament records in rebounds (20, against USC) and
points (41, against Oregon), was held to 17 points on only 6-of-15
shooting from the field.
The No. 13 Bruins yet again were the epitome of balance.
Sophomore Jordan Farmar was the team’s catalyst with 19 points, but
the production was spread throughout the roster as nine different
Bruins scored in the game.
The marked improvement of the Bruin post players was also on
display. Senior Ryan Hollins rounded out what might be his most
productive three-game stretch of his career with 12 points and four
rebounds.
But it was the collective effort on defense that propelled the
Bruins to another convincing win. The work of Hollins, Luc Richard
Mbah Moute and Alfred Aboya contained the overpowering Powe for
most of the game and didn’t allow the Bears many easy baskets. The
Bruins have now held their opponents to less than 60 points for the
sixth-straight game. UCLA will watch the NCAA Tournament Selection
Show (Sunday, 3 p.m., CBS) hoping that its late season surge has
impressed the committee enough to garner the club a No. 2 or a No.
3 seed in the tournament.
Compiled by Bruin Sports senior staff. For further coverage
of the Bruin’s Pac-10 victory and their seeding in the NCAA
tournament, check out the Daily Bruin on Monday.