UCLA Keeps Pressure On and Cruises : College basketball: Bruins build early 15-point lead in opener and roll over Cal State Northridge, 83-60.

Getting the best out of its press, UCLA slammed and outmanned Cal State Northridge, then started thinking about Kentucky, its next opponent.

Pressing all game long and expressing themselves with powerful dunks, the Bruins barreled to a 15-point lead and cruised to an 83-60 victory before 9,102 at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday in the opener for both teams.

“They were a pretty dominating force,” Matador Coach Pete Cassidy said.

All in all, the Bruins did a good job of wiping away the memory of their sloppy one-point victory over Athletes In Action last Tuesday in their last exhibition game.

The Bruins took advantage of their edge in size and strength, with seven-foot center George Zidek and 6-8 forward Ed O’Bannon scoring 13 quick points to help UCLA build a 24-9 lead before seven minutes had elapsed.

Zidek made five of seven shots and led the Bruins with 14 points in only 20 minutes. Sophomore forward Charles O’Bannon scored 13 points and his brother, Ed, scored 11.

Center Peter Micelli led Northridge with 17.

UCLA outrebounded the Matadors, 44-28, but it was 22-10 in the first half.

Throughout the game, Bruin Coach Jim Harrick gave his four heralded freshmen plenty of minutes and kept up the full-court pressure, forcing Northridge into 22 turnovers--but also causing 22 UCLA turnovers in the high-octane atmosphere.

Harrick hinted that UCLA might utilize its speed, depth and quickness in next Saturday’s game against Kentucky by pressing against the most famous pressing team in the nation.

“I kind of have a feeling we play a little bit better that way,” Harrick said. “I don’t think we’re the kind of team that can press 40 minutes a game, but maybe we can.

“But you have to remember, pressing is a gamble, it’s like going to Vegas.”

Senior point guard Tyus Edney, a key part of the Bruins’ pressure defense and offense, pointed to the quality minutes turned in by UCLA’s backups and said he is all for stepping up the defensive aggressiveness even against teams like Kentucky.

UCLA, Edney said, can go nine, 10 or 11 deep, which means fresh legs to chase opponents.

“We have a lot of guys who can come in and just pick it up where the other guys left off and do real well,” said Edney, who scored eight points and had five rebounds, four assists and three steals.

“It keeps us up-tempo, and we’re an up-tempo type (of) team. It keeps the intensity real high.”

Said Ed O’Bannon: “When we pressed last year and when we’ve done it this year, it’s worked pretty well. So let’s keep it up, see what happens.”

The most impressive freshman Saturday--and for most of the preseason too--was 6-5 guard Toby Bailey, who made both of his three-point shots and scored nine points, including a monster dunk over Northridge center Shane O’Doherty, who is listed at 6-11.

Bailey was rewarded for his play by starting the second half with the first team, which Bailey took as a potential sign of things to come.

Sophomore Cameron Dollar started opposite Edney at guard, but Harrick might want to use Dollar as a seasoned leader of the reserves.

“I think Coach is considering me for that fifth starting spot,” Bailey said. “He was giving me a little tryout. I think he wants me to just stay under control and play within the offense and play hard defense.”

And the dunk?

“I just jumped as hard as I could,” Bailey said. “When I jumped, I didn’t expect to dunk it, but I was high enough and I decided in the air I could dunk it.”

Ed O’Bannon and Edney, workhorses last season, said they looked forward to more rest this season watching Bailey, J.R. Henderson, Kris Johnson and omm’A Givens. In their debuts, Henderson had eight points and four rebounds, Johnson had four rebounds and Givens had five rebounds but missed all five of his shots.

Harrick played most of the freshmen together as a unit, as he had against AIA.

“I know it’s helping me because my knees feel a whole lot better after the games now that I’m getting some rest,” Ed O’Bannon said. “It’s great to see them play together.”

Said Edney: “It’s fun to see the freshmen play with each other. I think they work well together. There’s definitely no drop-off.”

* USC: The Trojans, who lost to New Mexico State in their opener Nov. 16, play Temple today in Memphis, Tenn. C16

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