Eighth Is Enough for UCLA

It was Steve Lavin’s send-off from Pauley Pavilion, and not many UCLA followers seemed broken up about it.

About time. None too soon. We’ll see the team next season with a new coach.

But Jason Kapono and Ray Young wrestled the Bruin carcass from the vultures, provided CPR in the form of breathless jump shots and hurricane hustle plays, leading UCLA to a comeback victory over Washington, 83-72, and into the Pacific 10 Conference tournament.

You see, it was their night too, the last home game for two seniors whose hearts have been broken in this mostly miserable season.

For 40 minutes, though, they proved their spirit remains intact, each scoring 20 points and leading a surge from a 14-point deficit that had 8,717 cheering as wildly as they must have during Bruin glory days.

It was a send-off, all right, and, in the larger context, a proper one.

Kapono ranks No. 4 on UCLA’s all-time scoring list and is the best three-point shooter in school history. He made four of six from long range against the Huskies.

Young continued his exceptional play at point guard with six assists to go with his points, all but four of which came in the second half when UCLA outscored Washington, 57-36.

And, yes, the victory was fitting for Lavin as well.

When he is fired at the end of the season, as even he admits is a certainty, he will go with a record of 81-17 at Pauley, losses to the likes of Cal State Northridge and Northern Arizona notwithstanding.

For Lavin, the pain has never been psychic this season, at least not that he will admit. He did, however, possibly dislocate his right shoulder demonstrating to the team how to throw elbows during a timeout. He aggravated the injury cheering a Kapono three-point basket early in the second half.

“At least I didn’t slip on a banana peel,” Lavin said. “It’s been that kind of season.”

Certainly it was that kind of first half against the Huskies. The Bruins (9-18, 6-12 in the Pac-10) had more turnovers (11) than baskets (nine) and trailed, 36-26.

Washington (10-17, 5-13) didn’t handle the ball any better, also committing 11 turnovers. But the Huskies made four three-point baskets and drove for several layups through the porous Bruin defense.

Young and Kapono, honored before the game in a ceremony, appeared tight. Each made only one shot in the half and they were a combined two for 12 with five turnovers.

“I was scared,” Young said. “My last game in Pauley Pavilion. My family and friends are here. I basically stunk it up in the first half.”

Forwards Dijon Thompson and T.J. Cummings were the only effective scorers early, and Thompson stayed hot throughout, scoring 26 points on 12-for-16 shooting.

“I asked him what he had for breakfast, Wheaties or cherry Pop Tarts,” said Lavin giddily.

The Bruins all seemed astonished at their remarkable rally. They went on a 20-2 run after trailing, 47-39, with 15 minutes to play. Kapono scored eight points in a row and the lead grew to 69-57 with 5:30 left.

Then, even more remarkably, they didn’t blow the lead down the stretch.

“Coach Lavin told us to calm down and stay poised,” Kapono said. “We came out and played a good second half.”

Young made his biggest play after Washington crawled to within 73-70 with 2:30 left. On the second of two missed free throws by Cummings, Young outjumped a defender and tipped the ball into the basket from seven feet away.

Then he made two free throws with 1:44 left to make the margin a comfortable seven points.

The final horn triggered an avalanche of students storming the court, with Young and Kapono savoring every last moment.

“Ray and Jason did everything seniors are supposed to do in that situation, in their last home game with the season on the line,” Lavin said.

Now, despite a 5-10 home record and more overall losses than in any season since 1940-41, the Bruins play on, facing No. 1 Arizona on Thursday in the first round of the conference tournament.

“We’ll rest and get our minds right,” Kapono said. “It’s a tournament. Anything can happen.”