Davis Takes Knee Out for Some Test Drives

Two drives, back to back, became key plays in UCLA’s 72-61 victory over California on Thursday night, reminders of what once was and may be soon again.

Cal, down by 14 points with 11 minutes left at Pauley Pavilion, had climbed within 61-55 with 4:28 remaining.

Baron Davis, scurrying to beat the shot clock, drove inside and tossed up a runner that went through.

On the Bruins’ next trip, Davis, again coming down the left side, took Cal’s Thomas Kilgore hard to the basket and banked one in from almost the same spot.

“I thought, ‘Wow,’ ” Bruin Travis Reed said later. “He’s almost back to where he was last year. Taking people to the rack, taking people strong.”

Taking control as he couldn’t have done even a couple of weeks ago.

“A couple weeks ago,” Davis said, “I probably wouldn’t be in at that point. I’d probably be on the bench, sucking some air.”

His presence, though, became a major factor as the 10th-ranked Bruins improved 12-3 overall and 9-0 at home.

On a night when reminders of the reconstructive surgery were most prominent, Davis having to come out early in the second half because the left knee was feeling stiff, he offered the positive memories as well.

He had a game-high 19 points, along with eight assists and five steals in 32 minutes, staying in the 30-minute range that doctors still prefer before lifting all time restrictions.

And he had the consecutive baskets that gave the Bruins their cushion back.

The lead went to 10 points after the second, with 3:32 to play. Cal answered with a basket and later added a free throw, moving into the double bonus with 2:11 still remaining, but could get no closer than that six.

The Bruins, shooting 59.3% in the second half and 48.3% in all, scored the next seven points.

Cal, meanwhile, finished at just 37.5% and had 21 turnovers--17 in the first half--against 11 assists.

“The thing that really stands out is our tremendous defense,” Coach Steve Lavin said after the Bruins went to 4-1 in Pacific 10 Conference before Saturday night’s showdown with Stanford. “Along with Kentucky, that was probably our best defensive effort of the season.

“With a young team, things like that are kind of milestones. Kind of hurdles.”

Whatever concerns the Bruins had about their youth being exposed against a team with much more experience--just as Stanford will have--quickly disappeared.

Cal--starting three seniors, one junior and one sophomore--committed two turnovers on its first three possessions, scored six unanswered points, and then began having problems with the ball.

The Bears began the night averaging 14 turnovers a game, and matched that number with about four minutes left in the first half.

That was part of a stretch in which they had seven consecutive turnovers.

UCLA took advantage to build a 30-17 lead with 2:15 left before intermission.

A few minutes later, the turnover total hit 17--at the same time the Bears had 17 points.

Cal went a little more than six minutes without a point.

All the Bear mistakes weren’t with the ball, either.

When the Bruins were going for a last shot of the half, Dennis Gates, a freshman, fouled Davis about 30 feet from the basket with 6.5 seconds remaining.

Davis made the first, but his airball on the second attempt made sure all the embarrassment wouldn’t belong to the Bears.

As it was, UCLA had a 31-19 advantage at the break.

Earl Watson had already scored 11 of his 17 points, and Davis was at eight, along with five steals.

That Cal was shooting the ball poorly at the same time obviously didn’t help, but also didn’t come as a surprise.

The Bears were No. 9 in the conference at 42.9% coming in. That was followed by the 38.1% of the first half, when leading scorer Geno Carlisle missed all three attempts and was scoreless in 18 minutes.