Tough Road to 140 Wins

UCLA’s victory over Georgetown was a milestone for Coach Steve Lavin. And it was far more difficult to reach than he’d anticipated.

The seventh-year Bruin coach now has 140 victories, an average of 20 a season.

It took five weeks and nine consecutive losses, bringing his total to 73.

“You hope at some point the law of averages would swing to our favor,” Lavin said.

“But the reality is, you have to make your own breaks.”

The fewest victories the Bruins have posted under Lavin are 21 and the most defeats, before this season, 12.

The Bruins are 5-14 with eight regular-season games left and seem certain to become the first UCLA team in 15 years to win fewer than 20.

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Lavin cut his rotation from the usual 11 or 12 to eight against Georgetown.

Gaining minutes were freshman center Ryan Hollins, who had 14 points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes, and sophomore forward Andre Patterson, who had eight points, seven rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots in 32 minutes.

Senior guard Ray Young played only 13 minutes and junior center T.J. Cummings played only 16.

Forward Josiah Johnson, guard Jon Crispin and center Michael Fey did not play.

-- Steve Henson