University of Washington
UCLA
Huskies Come Up Short In L.A.
January 04, 2001 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 4, 2001
Postgame Quotes (Audio)
LOS ANGELES - It appears UCLA center Dan Gadzuric is finally living up to his potential.
Gadzuric had 19 points, 16 rebounds and four blocked shots, and extended his consecutive field goal streak to 15 before finally missing Thursday night as UCLA opened the Pacific-10 season with an 86-64 victory over Washington.
Gadzuric, a 6-foot-11 junior who made all eight of his shots in an 87-82 victory over Purdue last Saturday, connected on his first seven against Washington before missing a wild reverse layup 4 1/2 minutes into the second half. He finished 8-of-10.
The NCAA record for consecutive field goals is 25, set by American University's Ray Voelkel in 1978.
"I knew I was on a roll, but to be honest, I didn't think about it," Gadzuric said. "I get the ball and try to finish, that's it. I've been working hard in practice, trying to shoot consistently. I'm just trying to do what's right, execute what we do in practice."
Averaging 13.9 points and 8.6 rebounds this season, Gadzuric was a disappointment in his first two years at UCLA, especially with his inconsistent play.
Jason Kapono added 18 points, Earl Watson had 15 points and seven assists, and T.J. Cummings scored 13 for the Bruins (6-4), who led 49-16 at halftime en route to their fourth win in the last five games.
"The first half, I thought we smothered the ball and rotated as quickly and efficiently as we have in the 10 years I've been here," UCLA coach Steve Lavin said. "The second half was a poor exhibition of basketball, we really had a letdown defensively in the second half. We have a long, long way to go."
Of Gadzuric, Lavin said: "He got involved (offensively), he felt good about himself. Defensively, he was a towering force, blocking shots and rebounding."
Freshman C.J. Massingale led Washington (6-7) with 25 points - his previous career high was seven. Will Perkins added 18 points for the Huskies.
"Our energy wasn't there, and they took advantage of it," Washington coach Bob Bender said. "You could just feel the tightness getting worse and worse. We're not working hard enough to get open, we're settling for jump shots."
Massingale brought a 2.4-point average into the game.
"I relaxed and gained confidence," he said. "Coach had confidence in me, and I just let the game come to me. I don't need to prove I'm a shooter or a point guard, I'll just relax and let the numbers call it."
UCLA, which entered the game ranked last in the Pac-10 in scoring defense at 78.2 points per game, put the Huskies away early with exceptional work at the defensive end. Washington made only 5-of-29 shots and 4-of-11 free throws and committed 18 turnovers in the first half.
UCLA made its first three shots, two by Gadzuric, in taking a 7-0 lead in the opening two minutes, and it was 13-0 before Washington's Ben Coffee made a layup with 13:58 left before halftime.
That was just the beginning. A follow shot by Billy Knight extended UCLA's lead to 18-2, and back-to-back baskets by Gadzuric made it 27-6. Kapono, the Bruins' leading scorer, finally got his first points on a jumper with 7:24 left in the half.
Washington didn't reach double figures until Perkins made a foul shot with 5:56 remaining in the half. That made it 32-10.
The Huskies fared better in the second half, but it was far too late.
UCLA's Ray Young, averaging 11.4 points and 3.2 rebounds, sat out the game due to a sprained left foot, but it hardly mattered. A school spokesman said there's a good possibility Young will be able to play Saturday when the Bruins face Washington State.
By JOHN NADEL
AP Sports Writer
