COLLEGE BASKETBALL / EXHIBITION ROUNDUP : Bruins Stumble Defensively in 96-85 Loss to Australia

UCLA is ranked No. 13 in the Associated Press preseason college basketball poll, but the Bruins won’t remain there if they continue to play as poorly as they did during a 96-85 exhibition loss to the Australian national team Wednesday night before 3,843 at Pauley Pavilion.

Australia made 56.9% of its shots, 62.1% in the first half. The Bruins fell behind by 22 points in the second half before outscoring Australia, 20-7, to cut the deficit to nine after Aussie forward Andrew Vlahov got into foul trouble. Vlahov had 24 points, eight rebounds and four steals.

But the Bruins couldn’t get any closer.

“Needless to say, we’ve got a lot to work on,” UCLA Coach Jim Harrick said. “We’re not a very good basketball team right now. They had 40 points on layins. That’s a joke.

“But you have to understand that (guard Tyus) Edney has only practiced about two days and (guard Shon) Tarver has only practiced about three days (because of injuries).”

Tarver led the Bruins with 18 points and forward Kevin Dempsey added 16. Freshman forward Charles O’Bannon had 13 points, making five of 14 shots. O’Bannon’s brother Ed had 12 points.

Forward Andrew Gaze, who helped lead Seton Hall to the 1989 NCAA championship game, led Australia with 26 points.