BERKELEY — UCLA is locked in another tight game with a Bay Area rival, trailing Cal 40-39 at halftime.
Tyler Lamb’s hot shooting has UCLA in it. The sophomore guard started the game five-of-five from the field and finished the half with 16 points.
On the other end, the Bruins have had few answers for the Bears’ Jorge Gutierrez. The senior guard from Mexico, who torched UCLA for 34 points in an overtime win here in Haas Pavilion a season ago, used a flurry of moves on his way to 12 first-half points. He could have done more damage, but left mid-half with an apparent injury only to return shortly afterward.
An injury also felled UCLA starting guard Lazeric Jones. Jones, coming off a career-high 24 points in a loss at Stanford on Thursday, had just three points before grabbing at his left ankle and noticeably wincing up and down the court. He left late in the half and did not return.
UCLA coach Ben Howland has played less zone defense than he did two days ago, often shifting back and forth between zone and man-to-man. It hasn’t been very effective, as the Bears shot 68 percent in the first half.