'CANE THREAT OVER; BRUINS BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF AFTER OPENER : UCLA 65, MIAMI 62.

Byline: Jon Wilner Daily News Staff Writer

This was basketball in a green and orange straitjacket, a grinding, grueling game that was as painful to watch as it was to play.

It took UCLA's unflappable seniors, Toby Bailey and J.R. Henderson, to finally break Miami's squeeze and lead the Bruins to a 65-62 victory Friday night at the Georgia Dome.

UCLA will play Michigan on Sunday (approximately 2 p.m.) in the second round.

The Bruins blew a 10-point second-half lead, then rallied in the final minute. They took a 63-62 lead with 25 seconds left, when Henderson hit two free throws. Then Johnny Hemsley missed a 3-pointer from the left with 7.4 on the clock. Bailey grabbed the rebound and was fouled. He drained the free throws, then watched Miami's Charles Wiseman miss a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

``It seemed like Green Bay-Detroit at Lambeau Field,'' UCLA coach Steve Lavin said. ``It feels good to move on.''

The Bruins left themselves open to second-guessing with their lax preparation tactics. They practiced hard only once this week, on Tuesday. The locker-room mood after Thursday's shooting session was extremely light, complete with rapping and a game of Pictionary. The coaches waited until Thursday night to review Miami schemes and personnel with the players.

It showed. The Bruins were confused and distracted. To the most important question - could they recreate the emotion of last weekend? - they answered with a resounding no.

They were lifeless.

Henderson led UCLA with 26 and Bailey added 21 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. But they had little help.

The freshman guards played like freshman guards, doing one thing right for every two mistakes - be they missed assignments, bad passes or sloppy ballhandling. Baron Davis dribbled off his foot in the first half, something he hasn't done since diapers.

Nor did the Bruins get any help from senior forward Kris Johnson. He was in early foul trouble, never got comfortable with Miami's scratching and clawing, and finally departed with more fouls (five) than points (three).

The Hurricanes tried to smother Henderson, but he was either too big or too quick for the defenders and made most every opportunity count.

During stretches of the first half, Bailey was the only Bruin who seemed to care. He battled for rebounds and slashed into the Miami defense. Only once, early in the game, did he force a bad shot.

Miami controlled the rebounding from the outset, scoring four second-chance baskets in the opening minutes. Add a 3-pointer and an uncontested layup to the mix, and the Hurricanes jumped to an 18-10 lead.

Both teams incurred early foul trouble. For UCLA, it was the usual suspects, Baron Davis and Henderson. But the Bruins' offense was so inept Lavin let them play despite two first-half fouls.

``There's a 50-50 chance of me getting in foul trouble or the other big guy getting in foul trouble,'' Henderson said. ``If I get in foul trouble first, we have a better chance of losing.''

As UCLA expected, Miami spent much of the game in a compact zone defense - smothering Henderson in the low post and forcing the Bruins to score from the perimeter. Lavin turned to reserve guard Brandon Loyd.

``We haven't seen a lot of zone lately,'' Lavin said. ``Washington, Arizona State and Arizona played man-to-man against us. Brandon has been like a designated hitter throughout his career - even his freshman year when he tossed in (two) 3-pointers against Princeton.''

Loyd didn't connect, didn't even try, but his presence seemed to loosen the Hurricanes' zone and facilitate Bruins ball movement. They whipped it to Johnson in the right corner for a 3-pointer, then Davis' dunk gave the Bruins their first lead - with a minute left in the half.

With its best player, Tim James, on the bench in foul trouble, Miami scored two baskets in the final five minutes, but Johnny Hemsley's 3-pointer tied it at the buzzer.

UCLA opened the second half by attacking the Miami zone with penetration. Davis sliced for two layups, then Earl Watson found Henderson behind the defense for an alley-oop. Suddenly, the Bruins had a six-point lead that seemed like 16.

It expanded to 49-39 when UCLA's demise began. Four straight scoreless possessions and horrendous defense gave the Hurricanes a second final chance.

Their inept offense found its groove. Mario Bland scored six points, all from close range, then Hemsley's 3-pointer from the right corner with three minutes left gave Miami a 59-58 lead.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) UCLA coach Steve Lavin feels the grip of Miami's pressure before his team pulls away for the NCAA opening win.

(2) UCLA's Rico Hines looks for the passing lane against Miami's Vernon Jennings during the first half.

Dave Martin/Associated Press

(3) A breakaway slam by UCLA's Baron Davis in the first half gave the Bruins a short-lived lead before the intermission.

John Bazemore/Associated Press