University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
Oregon
Kapono Heats Up, Leads Bruins Past Ducks, 75-69
February 24, 2000 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 24, 2000
By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer
LOS ANGELES - Freshman Jason Kapono scored all of his 15 points in the second half and UCLA beat Oregon 75-69 Thursday night to snap a three-game losing streak.
The Bruins (14-11, 5-8 Pac-10) kept their hopes alive for an NCAA tournament berth with five games remaining, including three at home.
Oregon (18-7, 9-5), which beat UCLA 73-58 last month, remained winless at Pauley Pavilion since 1984. The third-place Ducks have lost two straight and need two more victories in their final five games for the school's first 20-win season in 25 years.
Earl Watson had 18 of his 22 points in the first half when he was free to score and defend while Ryan Bailey handled point guard duties.
A.D. Smith led the Ducks with 23 points. He, Alex Scales and Darius Wright account for 55 percent of Oregon's scoring, but Scales had Wright combined for just seven points.
Kapono played only five minutes in the first half because of two fouls. He came up with big shots in the second half, including a 3-pointer from the left corner off a pass from Watson that restored UCLA's lead to 12 points with 8:38 left.
UCLA outscored Oregon 8-3 early in the second half to take a 41-29 lead. The Ducks responded with an 11-2 spurt to close within three with 13 minutes remaining on seven straight points from Bracey.
Kapono twice more hit shots that kept the Bruins' lead in double figures.
Oregon closed within four points on a 3-pointer by David Jackson with 40 seconds left. But Jackson later missed two free throws and the Bruins survived despite going 7 of 15 from the line in the final 2:09.
