UCLA @ California preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 5, 2017 ) California 71, UCLA 81

Just when it appeared UCLA was finding some much-needed momentum, the Bruins took a step back with Thursday’s 107-99 double-overtime loss at Stanford. Coach Steve Alford’s squad looks to bounce back and salvage a split of its Bay Area swing on Saturday against California, which is coming off an ugly 18-point loss to USC.

UCLA followed an impressive victory over Kentucky with wins against Washington State and Washington before falling flat against Stanford, which overcame a 13-point second-half deficit and snapped the Bruins’ four-game winning streak. “You can't get up 12 to 14 points and relax,” Alford told reporters. “That’s when we have to step on the throat. This team just hasn’t learned that yet. Their effort has to become really tough and nasty, and we haven't been able to figure that out consistently on the road.” Guard Aaron Holiday averages a team-high 19.3 points for the Bruins, who struggled defensively and were 6-of-16 from the foul line in the second half of Thursday’s loss to Stanford. UCLA will need to be careful not to overlook Cal, which ranks last in the Pac-12 in scoring offense (75.1 points per game) and defense (79.7) but opened league play with a 77-74 win over Stanford.

TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network

ABOUT UCLA (11-4, 2-1 Pac-12): Holiday scored 29 of his team-high 31 points after halftime in Thursday's loss to Stanford and had to carry the offense after center Thomas Welsh, forward G.G. Goloman and guard Kris Wilkes all fouled out. Welsh averages 12.3 points and 10.9 rebounds but was limited to eight points in 23 minutes Thursday after leaving briefly in the first half with a minor nose injury. The shorthanded Bruins have received a spark from sophomore guard Prince Ali, who had 16 points and four rebounds in the loss at Stanford but missed four of his eight foul shots.

ABOUT CAL (7-8, 1-1): One game after scoring 53 points in the second half of their win over Stanford, the Bears scored a season low in points and nearly had as many turnovers (22) as field goals (23) in Thursday’s 80-62 loss to USC. The Bears’ rotation includes five freshmen, including guard Darius McNeill, who ranks second on the team in scoring at 12.9 points per game but was held to six against the Trojans. Coach Wyking Jones is looking for more production from 7-foot-1 center Kingsley Okoroh, who moved into the starting lineup Thursday and had four points and four rebounds in 26 minutes.

TIP-INS

1. UCLA holds a 137-103 lead in the all-time series, including last season’s 81-71 win at Pauley Pavilion.

2. Cal guard Don Coleman, averaging a team-high 19.1 points per game, was held to a season-low four points on 1-of-8 shooting against USC.

3. The Bruins are 86-9 when leading at halftime since the start of the 2013-14 season.

PREDICTION: UCLA 87, Cal 71