Watson Moving On Up

Earl Watson has already moved into 10th place on the school’s all-time assist list with his Bruin career only 2 1/2 seasons old, putting him in good position to climb two more spots before his junior season is over and maybe even crack the top five by the time he leaves UCLA.

Bill Walton had been the only full-time non-guard on the chart, before Watson moved ahead of him with six assists last Saturday at North Carolina. That gave Watson 321 for his career, ahead of Walton’s 316.

Watson, in his first season as the permanent point guard, is on pace to finish the regular season with 407 assists. That would move him ahead of Andre McCarter (376) and Gerald Madkins (404), with Cameron Dollar (451) and Toby Bailey (458) ahead early in his senior season.

The top of the list is out of reach: Pooh Richardson (833), Tyus Edney (652) and Darrick Martin (636).

Watson also needs five steals to reach the career top-10 list in that category. He has 140, with Baron Davis, Shon Tarver and Ralph Jackson tied for eighth at 145.

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The last eight times Arizona has come to Pauley Pavilion, a rivalry that will be continued Thursday, the game has been decided by nine points or fewer.