Bruins Seek Good Standing

Through all the injuries and lineup changes and players being disciplined, UCLA still plays in Arizona with the chance to finish second in the Pacific 10.

Also at stake, perhaps as late as Saturday in Tucson in the final game of the regular season, is the standing with the NCAA tournament selection committee. If the Bruins beat Arizona State tonight and Arizona two days later, they could become a third-seeded team.

A victory on either stop of the two-game trip means UCLA will at least match the 22-win total for the regular season of the senior-laden team of 1997-98. A sweep will mean their best record entering the tournament since 1996.

Stanford, 14-2 in conference, has clinched the Pac-10 title. UCLA and Arizona are 11-5, and both first play 6-10 teams, Arizona State and USC.

Coming up: Saturday at Arizona.

TONIGHT at Arizona State, 5:30

(FSW 2, 10 p.m.)

* Site--Wells Fargo Center, Tempe, Ariz.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Bruins 21-7, 11-5; Sun Devils 14-14, 6-10.

* Update--UCLA has 20 consecutive wins in the series. Arizona State took the Bruins to overtime Jan. 4 at Pauley Pavilion, but has lost five of its last six and six of eight. Sun Devil guard Eddie House is second in the conference in scoring and teammate Bobby Lazor is fourth in scoring and rebounding.