UCLA 77, CSUN 45: Steve Alford

After a 77-45 win over Cal State Northridge, UCLA head coach Steve Alford said he saw growth in his Bruins — stressing that the game was a step forward for a team that had fallen to .500 before Thanksgiving.

“Hopefully,” he said, “we can gain a little bit of confidence going into what’s going to be a really big week with Kentucky and Long Beach State.”

CSUN head coach candidates include UCLA assistants

UCLA assistant coaches Scott Garson and Phil Matthews are candidates for the Cal State Northridge head coaching vacancy. Garson has been with the Bruins for seven years, while Matthews has for three.

Matadors athletic director Brandon Martin, hired in late February, did not renew Bobby Braswell’s contract — ending the coach’s 17-year tenure. The other finalists for the position are Los Angeles D-Fenders coach Reggie Theus, Cal State Dominguez Hills coach Damaine Powell and Gonzaga assistant Donny Daniels.