UCLA basketball: Huskies give Bruins a 29-point beating
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Washington’s Quincy Pondexter couldn’t have scripted his Senior Night any better. The Huskies made sure Pondexter went out in style with a 97-68 victory over UCLA. It was the Bruins’ worst loss ever to Washington, eclipsing the 90-65 beating the Bruins took in 1986, and the worst loss in Ben Howland’s UCLA coaching career.
As the only senior on the Washington roster--other than the student manager--Pondexter was honored before the game. He took that bounce into the game, sinking a three-pointer on the Huskies’ first possession and finishing with 14 first-half points.
By halftime, the Huskies (18-9 overall, 8-7 in the Pacific 10 Conference) had a 49-26 lead, the most points given up in a half by UCLA this season. Things only got worse for the Bruins.
Washington shot 68% in the first half, while the Bruins shot 37%. The Huskies shot 59% for the game and led by as many as 33 points.
Pondexter made seven of 11 shots and scored 20 points. The Huskies had four players in double figures, including Isaiah Thomas with 17.
Reeves Nelson had 14 points to lead UCLA.
--Chris Foster
Twitter.com/cfosterlatimes