[0] BRUINS USE THEIR ESCAPE CLAWS; BAILEY'S 3-POINTER SETS THE TRAP AS BEARS NEARLY STEAL ONE : UCLA 74 CAL 73.

Byline: Jon Wilner Daily News Staff Writer

The story of this game was told months ago, when the Bruins gathered 'round one night and assessed each other's ability.

J.R. Henderson, they decided, was the superbly skilled forward. Kris Johnson was the devastating jump shooter, the man with a million moves. Jelani McCoy, of course, was the shot-blocker supreme.

When Toby Bailey's turn came, everyone knew.

``You're the big-play guy,'' the Bruins yelled in unison.

So it was Thursday night when Bailey got the ball 22 feet away, UCLA down two, 1:44 left, the shot clock expiring and Cal's Geno Carlisle close enough to count cavities.

``I've seen him hit crazier shots,'' Johnson said. ``He always does that kind of thing, no matter how he's playing.''

Bailey's 3-pointer became the decisive basket in UCLA's 74-73 victory over Cal before 10,927 at the Oakland Coliseum - a victory that guaranteed the Bruins a Bay Area split with Saturday's showdown at Stanford looming.

The No. 8 Bruins (13-2, 4-1) avoided a must-win mousetrap at Maples Pavilion, site of last season's 48-point loss.

``This is a huge relief,'' Johnson said. ``Now we're not down one going to Stanford. It makes the weekend easier. We'll sleep easier tonight.''

UCLA's performances of late are better suited for Outward Bound than the Pac-10. Whether it's Arizona State, Oregon or Cal, the Bruins seem to wander down the most dangerous path, then find their bearing in time to snatch victory from defeat.

``The one theme that's consistent about this team is it has a special way of keeping things interesting,'' coach Steve Lavin said.

Thursday night, UCLA wasted an early lead and trailed the Bears by eight points on five occasions in the second half. But with seniors Henderson, Bailey and Johnson leading the way - they combined for 64 points and 24 rebounds - the Bruins outscored Cal 17-5 in the final minutes to claim the victory.

``It seems like we get relaxed in the middle of the game,'' Henderson said. ``Then we get to the end and it's like, `Oh, we've got to win.' We can pick it up and stop other teams whenever we want.''

The latest drama began with a technical foul on Cal's Thomas Kilgore with seven minutes left. The Bruins turned it into a five-point play that trimmed Cal's lead to 63-60. UCLA's deficit was 68-67 when Bailey buried his 3-pointer from 22 feet on the right wing.

``He made the key shot,'' Cal coach Ben Braun said. ``That showed what kind of player he is.''

But Bailey wasn't finished. A few seconds later, he blocked Carlisle's jumper. Then his free throw gave the Bruins a 73-71 lead.

With 19 seconds left and McCoy flying in his face, Carlisle missed from 18 feet. The Bears quickly fouled Johnson, who made one for a 74-71 lead. Then Cal guard Ray King inexplicably passed up a 3-pointer and fed Sean Marks for a meaningless layup, and the Bruins had survived.

``This was a collective effort,'' Lavin said. ``It was defense by committee. In the first half, I wasn't happy with our competitiveness. In the second, you saw UCLA playing to its billing.''

The Bruins corrected several of their flaws from last week. They outrebounded Cal 37-33, the first time in Pac-10 play they've held the rebound advantage. UCLA also avoided the second-half concentration lapses that nearly doomed it against Oregon, scoring 49 points in the final 20 minutes. More, the Bruins made 27 of 35 free throws.

``We have deficiencies from A to Z, but it's a good thing when you have deficiencies and you're 13-2,'' Lavin said.

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Photo, Box

Photo: (Color) UCLA's Toby Bailey gets knocked down, but he gets up again - to hit the game-clinching 3-point basket with 53 seconds left at Cal.

Associated Press

Box: PACIFIC 10 CONFERENCE STANDINGS