UCLA gets revenge against Stanford in style

UCLA guard Prince Ali, right, shoots over Stanford forward Michael Humphrey during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Los Angeles, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018. (Chris Carlson AP Photo)

After what Stanford did to UCLA earlier this month, beating the Bruins in double overtime, Prince Ali thought the Bruins “owed them this game.”

UCLA delivered a shot of revenge in style Saturday with an 89-73 win in Pauley Pavilion punctuated by a highlight-reel worthy between-the-legs pass from Jaylen Hands to Kris Wilkes, one of Hands’ career-high 10 assists.

The win boosted the Bruins into third place in the Pac-12 going into next Saturday’s rivalry game against USC in Pauley Pavilion.

Links to wrap up the game

UCLA game day links: Bruins hope to avoid season sweep against Stanford

UCLA guard Kris Wilkes, left, shoots as California center Kingsley Okoroh defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Los Angeles. UCLA won 70-57. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

UCLA got past the easiest part of its critical three-game home stand. And the Bruins needed to come back from an early 13-point deficit to just do that part.

Beating last-place Cal won’t do much to change UCLA’s season, but Saturday’s game might.

UCLA is trying to avoid the season sweep against Stanford on Saturday after the Cardinal beat the Bruins in double overtime in Palo Alto earlier this month. The Bruins are still trying to climb back from the three-game losing streak that knocked them from first to fifth in the Pac-12 and can’t afford any slip-ups in Pauley Pavilion, especially with USC visiting next weekend.

Saturday’s game tips off at 7:30 p.m. on Pac-12 Networks with the radio broadcast AM 570.

Links to preview the game

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  • Bracketology