BERKELEY “”mdash; Ryan Hollins’ stint in the starting
lineup lasted all of a single game. The sophomore 7-footer, who
started for the first time at center in Thursday’s loss to
Stanford, returned to the bench in favor of Michael Fey against
California on Saturday. UCLA coach Ben Howland said he had a hunch
that Fey could provide the team with a spark offensively to start
the game, but that did not materialize. Fey played just eight
minutes, scoring two points and struggling on the defensive end.
Both Hollins and reserve Josiah Johnson saw more crunch time action
than Fey, who played just two second-half minutes. Hollins, who
played 22 minutes off the bench, said after the game that he was
surprised not to be in the lineup, but it did not affect his play.
“It’s a little bit confusing, but it really
doesn’t matter to me,” Hollins said. “I just do
what coach asks me do. Once the game starts, it doesn’t
matter who’s starting.”
HEAVY HEARTS: The Bears wore small black
patches with the words “AL 31″ across the front of
their jerseys in memory of Cal women’s basketball player
Alisa Lewis, who died Monday from bacterial meningitis. Cal coach
Ben Braun said that several of his players were good friends with
Lewis, and her family was in attendance at the game. The entire
team was present at her funeral earlier in the week.
DRIBBLERS: Cal’s 14-2 run to start the
game marked the third straight game that the Bruins have trailed by
double digits in the first half. The Bears’ eight turnovers
were a season low. UCLA guard Cedric Bozeman recorded 10 assists,
besting his previous career-high of nine, which he set earlier this
season against Vermont.