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UCLA hopes to move into sole possession of Pac-10 lead

Jan 25, 2007 - 4:04 PM No. 2 UCLA (17-1) at California (12-7) 9:00 pm EST

BERKELEY, California (Ticker) -- UCLA hopes to move into sole possession of first place in the Pacific 10 Conference when it tangles with California on Thursday.

The Bruins are 6-1 in league play and tied for first with seventh-ranked Oregon, which plays at Washington on Thursday.

UCLA has won three straight after losing to Oregon, 68-66, on January 6.

The Bruins beat No. 11 Arizona, 73-69, on Saturday despite playing without forward Richard Mbah a Moute, who is sidelined with a sprained right knee and is listed as questionable for Thursday.

Arron Afflalo led UCLA with 22 points. He had averaged just 14.0 points in his four previous games. Afflalo has reached double figures in 17 straight games, the longest active streak on the Bruins and in the Pac 10.

Darren Collison added 14 points and seven assists for the Bruins. He has reached double figures in 12 straight games.

The Bears (4-3 Pac-10) fell to Oregon, 92-84, on Saturday. Theo Robinson led Cal with a season-high 19 points. He had averaged just 3.6 points in his five previous games.

The Bruins pounded Cal, 71-52, to claim the Pac-10 title last March.