Knight, Reed Are Ready if Needed

Freshman forwards Billy Knight and Travis Reed got some of their earliest and most significant playing time in weeks during Wednesday’s 101-84 victory over USC and said they hoped their performances gave Coach Steve Lavin the confidence to play them more.

The two could be key replacements if center Jelani McCoy, the subject of more than a week of speculation that he is about to be suspended, is sidelined for an indefinite period.

Reed scored seven points and grabbed two rebounds in eight minutes. Knight scored seven points, making two of three three-point tries, and also had two rebounds in nine minutes.

“I think this game is going to help Coach get some confidence in us,” said the 6-foot-6 Reed, UCLA’s only other possible post player beyond McCoy and J.R. Henderson. “I think we can help out those guys, like Toby [Bailey] and J.R., who are playing 40 minutes a lot of the time.

“I think they can play us more to give them a rest instead of just playing six. But that six is a very good six, maybe the best six in the nation. So I understand why it happens.”