Jan 6, 2002

Box Score

By BETH HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES - Billy Knight had career highs of 32 points and six 3-pointers, and No. 14 UCLA pulled away over the final 7 minutes to beat Washington State 81-69 Sunday for its ninth consecutive victory.

The Bruins (11-2) completed a four-game sweep of the Washington schools to start Pac-10 play with a 4-0 mark.

Washington State (4-8, 0-4) lost its sixth straight game overall and 18th in a row to UCLA, while remaining winless in 45 games against the Bruins in Los Angeles.

But for just the second time in eight years at Pauley Pavilion, the Cougars made the game closer than 10 points.

Knight scored 18 points in the second half, including his fifth 3-pointer, which gave UCLA the lead for good - 62-59 with 7:11 remaining.

His basket launched a 22-10 run, in which Knight had 14 points, to close the game. Dan Gadzuric, in foul trouble for the second straight game, punctuated the victory with a huge dunk at the buzzer.

Despite UCLA's late dominance, the Cougars got within four points on two free throws by Milton Riley with four minutes left.

But Knight answered with his sixth 3-pointer, then made all four of his free throws down the stretch.

Before Knight put UCLA in front for good, the Cougars had twice taken one-point leads after rallying from eight points down and trailing 39-38 at halftime.

Mike Bush led five Washington State players in double figures with 18 points.

Knight's previous career bests were 23 points against Arizona State last February and four 3-pointers against Georgetown on Dec. 29.