Bruins Hurry, Only to Wait

After blowing a 20-point lead, UCLA wanted to blow out of Arizona as soon as possible.

The Bruins’ flight was not scheduled to leave until 7:40 p.m., and they rushed from McKale Center to the airport to try to catch an earlier one. But although they arrived an hour before departure, they were not allowed on because security did not have enough time to search their bags.

So it was back to Plan A, and they had to wait four hours until 7:40. That’s the price a team pays for not booking charter flights.

“The only consolation is that we can watch the NFL playoff game on TV at the airport,” Bruin guard Ryan Walcott said. “At least we’ll have something to do.”

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Walcott, who led Phoenix Shadow Mountain High to a state championship in 2000, had a dozen relatives at the Arizona State game Thursday, and eight more at Arizona. They had ample opportunity to watch the redshirt freshman point guard play: He logged 12 minutes against the Sun Devils and 14 against the Wildcats--both season highs--and had only one turnover.

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“Ryan gives us speed bringing the ball up the floor,” UCLA Coach Steve Lavin said. “He’s a good ballhandler.”

The Bruins’ 17 three-point baskets Saturday broke the school record of 14, set two years ago against Maryland in the NCAA tournament.

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UP NEXT

Thursday vs. Stanford, 7:30 p.m., Fox Sports Net--UCLA will return home to face Stanford and California, which both split with the Bruins last season. Guard Rico Hines, who sat out against Arizona State and Arizona because of a concussion, will probably return Thursday.

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Steve Henson