Washington @ UCLA preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 2, 2020 ) UCLA 66, Washington 64

With a resume that includes ugly non-conference losses to Hofstra and Cal State Fullerton, UCLA knows winning the Pac-12 tournament may be its only road to the Big Dance. The surging Bruins look to maintain their momentum Saturday against visiting Washington, which has lost seven straight and sits last in the conference standings.

The Bruins won for the sixth time in their last eight games and moved to within one game of first place in the Pac-12 on Thursday behind sophomore forward Cody Riley, who scored 11 of his 19 points in overtime in an 86-83 win over Washington State. “That's the definition of beast mode,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin told reporters. “He just did a great job. We’ve worked hard with him. I think he’s been a guy his whole life who has scored because of his size and now he has to score with techniques and fakes and balance. The way he was going you could see he was on a mission.” The 6-9, 250-pound Riley is averaging 8.1 points on 51.7 percent shooting for the Bruins, who play four of their final six games in Los Angeles. While UCLA has emerged as surprise title contender, Washington is 2-11 in its last 13 games and continues to struggle without suspended point guard Quade Green (academically ineligible).

TIME: 10 p.m. ET. TV: ESPN2

ABOUT WASHINGTON (12-13, 2-10 Pac-12): The Huskies boast a pair of the NBA’s top prospects in freshmen forwards Isaiah Stewart (17.2 points per game) and Jaden McDaniels (12.7), but the current losing skid is tied for the program’s third-longest in the past 65 years. “The biggest thing for us is focus on full commitment to each other, full commitment to this is how we play and that’s the best way to get out of this little rut and finish strong,” coach Mike Hopkins told reporters. Stewart recorded his 10th double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds in Thursday’s 62-56 loss to USC, which held the Huskies to 25.8 percent in the second half.

ABOUT UCLA (14-11, 7-5): Junior guard Chris Smith recorded 23 points and 13 rebounds in the win over Washington State to help the Bruins rally from a 12-point deficit with 14 minutes remaining. UCLA is aiming for a season sweep of Washington after freshman wing Jake Kyman went 7-of-12 from 3-point range and finished with a season-high 21 points in a two-point win at Washington in the league opener on Jan. 2. Freshman point guard Tyger Campbell has scored in double figures in four straight games and is averaging 7.3 points and 4.4 assists in conference play.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. UCLA has won eight of the past 11 meetings against Washington and owns a 100-43 lead in the all-time series.

2. Stewart recorded 24 points and 11 rebounds while shooting 12-of-14 from the foul line in last month’s 66-64 loss to the Bruins.

3. UCLA is 66-9 when leading at halftime since the start of the 2016-17 season.

PREDICTION: UCLA 78, Washington 67