Bruins sparkle, flicker against All-Star team

Wednesday, November 11, 1998

Bruins sparkle, flicker against All-Star team

M.HOOPS: After strong first half, UCLA falters but hangs on to
win

By Brent Boyd

Daily Bruin Staff

If this game was a sign of things to come, the men’s basketball
team should provide plenty of excitement for its fans this
season.

And frustration, for that matter.

In its 95-89 exhibition victory over the California All-Stars
Tuesday night in Pauley Pavilion, UCLA at times looked unstoppable,
and at others looked unbearable. There was very little middle
ground.

Take, for example, a six-minute 27-1 blitz in the first half
that enabled the Bruins to take a 49-22 lead.

But that was followed by a 15-4 run to close out the half by the
All-Stars, which included a four-and-a-half minute scoreless
drought by UCLA. The Bruins were also on the wrong end of 10-0 and
10-3 second-half runs.

"We made some mistakes. We can live with those if they are
playing aggressive," UCLA head coach Steve Lavin said.

The Bruins turned over the ball 25 times and missed 15 of 23
free throws. But this was offset by the 27 forced turnovers, a
nearly 60 percent field goal percentage in the first half, and
numerous alley-oops and dunks.

"In the first half we played great, but we need to pump it up
big time," guard Earl Watson said.

Watson was the primary reason UCLA jumped out to its early lead.
He had a double-double by halftime (11 points, 11 assists), and in
a in a four-minute stretch in the first half, he had five assists,
six points, a steal and a rebound.

"He’s one of those spirited players, he is probably the most
improved on the team," Lavin said.

Watson finished with 15 points and 13 assists. He also had 10
turnovers.

Other Bruin notables included freshman forward JaRon Rush
(team-high 17 points) and center Jerome Moiso (6-of-7 shooting for
13 points and seven rebounds).

The All-Stars featured ex-collegiate players, including two
former Bruins ­ forward Bob Myers and guard Mitchell
Butler.

Myers finished with five points, while Butler added 14.

Andy Bostick led the All-Stars with 27 points.

This was the 10th game in as many days for the All-Stars. They
have beat Fresno State and Hawaii, and fell by single digits to
Pepperdine, Utah, BYU, UTEP and New Mexico.

Freshman forward Dan Gadzuric missed the game due to tendinitis
in both knees. He may play Thursday against the Taiwan National
Team.

Rico Hines will not play until the regular season opener against
Santa Clara Nov. 19 .

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