(Sports Network) The UCLA Bruins will attempt to complete a season sweep of the Oregon Ducks when the two teams meet tonight in a Pac-10 Conference clash from Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles.
Last month, UCLA beat Oregon by a 67-59 final to extend its series lead over the Ducks to 82-27.
Oregon has turned around a season that earlier featured a six-game losing streak. The Ducks have won their last two games and four of the last five overall to improve to 12-11 on the year and 5-6 in league action. They knocked off Washington last Saturday by an 81-76 final, avenging an 18-point loss to the Huskies last month.
UCLA may very well be the best team in the Pac-10, as it has won its last three games and seven of the last eight overall to move to 16-7 for the season, and 7-3 in conference. The Bruins took a break from league action last Saturday to knock off St. John's by a 66-59 final, and they are now 12-2 at Pauley Pavilion.
Joevan Catron has been a big-time performer for Oregon this season, and he came through with 20 points in the victory over Washington last time out. Catron also ripped down nine rebounds and recorded three steals for the Ducks, who got 16 points from E.J. Singler and 14 points from Tyrone Nared. A 19-5 edge in points from the foul line clearly played a key role in the win for Oregon, as did a tremendous ratio of 21 assists to just eight turnovers. Catron has clearly emerged as a candidate for All-Pac-10 honors, as he is netting 16.0 ppg on 52.8 percent shooting from the floor while ripping down 6.7 rpg. Singler is the only other double-digit scorer on the roster with his 11.2 ppg, and the Ducks are generating 70.3 ppg wile surrendering 68.7 ppg to foes.
For the second straight game, Joshua Smith led UCLA in scoring in the victory over St. John's last Saturday. Smith tallied 19 points and eight rebounds off the bench, and Malcolm Lee came through with 15 points. Reeves Nelson only attempted four field goals and finished with a modest total of 12 points, but his 17 rebounds were obviously a major contributing factor in the win. As for Tyler Honeycutt, Reeves' frontcourt partner, he chipped in 11 points for the Bruins, who overcame 22 turnovers by limiting the Red Storm to 39.7 percent shooting from the floor. A 40-28 edge on the boards helped the cause, as did a 27-5 advantage in points from the foul line. Nelson is scoring 14.1 ppg on 58.4 percent shooting from the floor, and he is ripping down 8.8 rpg. Lee and Honeycutt are both contributing 13.0 ppg, and Honeycutt provides 7.9 rpg as well. Lazeric Jones brings further balance to the lineup with 10.7 ppg, and Smith is averaging 10.6 ppg for the Bruins, who are posting 71.4 ppg while allowing 67.3 ppg.
Expect the Bruins to win this game rather easily, as they will dominate the paint. This meeting won't be as competitive as the first between the squads.
For more on tonight's game, visit our own Bruins Nation.