UCLA rips Mississippi, 80-58

Posted 6:52AM on Saturday 16th March 2002 ( 23 years ago )

PITTSBURGH - Over the years, March has always brought out the very best in UCLA teams. And it just might with these streaky Bruins. Billy Knight made three straight 3-pointers to open the second half as UCLA advanced to the second round of the NCAA West Regional with an 80-58 win Friday night over Mississippi. The eighth-seeded Bruins (20-11), who entered the tournament playing their worst ball this season, looked like a team capable of making a run deep into the tournament. To do so, they'll have to get by top-seeded Cincinnati in the second round Sunday. Behind Steve Logan's 27 points, the Bearcats rolled to a 90-52 win over 16th-seeded Boston University. Knight finished with 21 points and freshman Dijon Thompson had 16 for the Bruins, who got a huge lift from their bench. Led by their heralded freshmen class of Thompson, Andre Patterson and Ryan Walcott, UCLA's reserves outscored the Bruins' first unit 42-38. Jason Kapono, the Bruins' leading scorer this season, had just 2 points - 14 under his average. Aaron Harper had 19 points and Justin Reed 14 to lead Ole Miss (20-11), which was hoping a win over college basketball's most storied program, might get it some national respect. UCLA, though, had other plans. And maybe some bigger ones, too. Bruins senior guard Rico Hines took the floor with ``Final Four'' written on his sneakers. With UCLA leading by 10, Knight opened the second half with a 3-pointer, and on the Bruins' next trip he drained another long-range jumper. After a steal, Knight couldn't stop smiling as he ran to the same spot on the floor and pleaded for the ball. And almost as quickly as Kapono hit him with a pass, Knight swished another 3 to put the Bruins up by 19. The Rebels, who shot just 34 percent, couldn't find the range against UCLA's zone defense. Ole Miss did just that, going 10-for-35 on 3-pointers. Guard Jason Harrison missed all nine of his attempts behind the arc. Unhappy with what he was getting from his starters, UCLA coach Steve Lavin benched all five and brought in reserves, including freshman Thompson, Patterson and Walcott midway through the first half. The kids responded as Thompson scored 10 points and Patterson five in a 15-0 run that put UCLA up 28-13. Lavin nearly brought his starters back during the spurt, but called them back from the scorer's table when Thompson hit a short jumper. Harper then went on a personal 9-0 run with three straight 3-pointers to bring the Rebels within two, but Knight hit a long 3 as the Bruins closed with an 8-0 burst to lead 36-26 at halftime.

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