UCLA Wins 2nd Straight, Tops California, 73-54
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — All five UCLA starters scored in double figures, led by freshman forward Kevon Looney with 15 points, as the Bruins cruised to a 73-54 victory over Cal in Pac-12 action Sunday night.
The win was UCLA's second straight after a five-game losing streak. The Bruins raised their record to 10-7 overall, 2-2 in Pac-12 play.
Cal (11-6, 1-3) lost for the fifth time in its past six games.
UCLA guard Norman Powell hit his first five shots in the game, helping to fuel a 10-2 run by the Bruins midway through the first half that turned a back-and-forth game in their favor permanently. The Bruins never trailed after a three-pointer by Isaac Hamilton made it 13-11 and started that surge six minutes into the game.
Cal was led by guard Jordan Mathews with 23 points, but he was the only Bear to reach double figures. Cal's leading scorer, Tyrone Wallace, came into the game averaging 19.1 points per game but was held to just four points on 2-of-9 shooting.
The Bruins snapped their five-game losing streak on Thursday night with a strong inside game. Junior center Tony Parker and freshman forward Kevon Looney combined for 49 points and 31 rebounds in that double-overtime victory over Stanford.
Against Cal, the duo was slow to establish an offensive game, combining to make just three of 10 shots in the first half. But they made an impact defensively. Parker, in particular, was instrumental in holding Cal senior forward David Kravish to 4-of-13 shooting in the game. The 6-foot-10 Kravish did lead everyone with 14 rebounds. But he missed six of his first eight shots and finished with nine points.
Looney and Parker got things going in the second half on the offensive end and the Bruins all but put the game away by outscoring Cal 16-3 in the first 7 ½ minutes after intermission. Looney had 10 of his 15 points in the second half and Parker 10 of his 13.
UCLA will head across town to face rival USC at the Galen Center on Wednesday. They do not return home until Jan. 29.
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