BLOWN AWAY; 3-POINTERS DOOM BRUINS : OREGON 97 UCLA 81.

Byline: Jon Wilner Daily News Staff Writer

Fittingly, it ended here - site of Jim Harrick's last-minute technical foul in 1995, an overtime defeat in '97 and, now, four UCLA losses in the last five years.

Oregon's McArthur Court has been the Bruins' house of horrors for much of this decade. Thursday night, fueled by a late-game 3-point barrage, the Ducks and Mac Court did it to UCLA again. Oregon's 97-81 victory before 9,087 likely ended the Bruins' quest to become the first Pac-10 team to win four straight outright conference titles.

Leading 62-61 with eight minutes remaining, Oregon's next six baskets were 3-pointers. The Ducks also made 15 of 16 free throws to hand UCLA its third Pac-10 defeat.

The first two conference losses, at Arizona and at Stanford, were acceptable to fans. This was not. These Ducks lack the savvy point guard (Kenya Wilkins) and experienced frontcourt players of UCLA's past conquerors. They had lost four of their previous six and entered the game seventh in the Pac-10.

``This is one of the most difficult losses to take because of the team we lost to,'' UCLA's Kris Johnson said. ``We did not put forth the effort. They `out-competed' us. But it's more discouraging because we lost to that crew. They're not a very good team.''

Mathematically, UCLA is alive to win the conference. Arizona beat Washington on Thursday to improve to 10-0 in conference play. The Bruins are three games behind, at 7-3. Even if they regroup and run the table for a 15-3 finish, they'll need a Wildcat collapse to gain a share of the title, much less win it outright.

``We haven't given up, but it'll be hard to win it, obviously,'' J.R. Henderson said.

In the second half, the Ducks shot 66.7 percent from the field, 63.6 percent from 3-point range and 81.5 percent from the foul line. They scored on 15 of their final 17 possessions. The Bruins clanked shots and fouled frantically - a stark contrast to their spirited victory over Washington five days ago.

Guard Terik Brown led Oregon with 22 points and sparked the decisive 3-point attack - hitting three in a row and four of the six. Several were uncontested, a baffling development considering Brown is no threat to do anything else.

The Bruins had survived this season despite a 3-point defense that ranked eighth in the Pac-10. It finally caught up with them in Mac Court, as the Ducks buried countless open jumpers.

``Down the stretch, they started making plays,'' Johnson said. ``That's been the story all year. We have team defensive breakdowns. It's not one guy. It's everybody's fault. If we play good defense, we beat these guys. If we don't, we lose by 15.''

The one time UCLA played flawless defense - with 4:33 left and Oregon leading 71-70 - guard Yasir Rosemond grabbed a loose ball in the left corner and hit a fadeaway 3-pointer as the shot clock expired.

``They played at the magic level,'' UCLA coach Steve Lavin said.

Rosemond credited the Ducks' depth for the victory, not magic.

``They only play six players,'' he said. ``Coach (Ernie Kent) kept subbing, and we wore them down.''

In Lavin's search for metaphysical explanations, he should start with the remodeled Mac Court. It's lighter, brighter and player-friendly. Students have been removed from behind one basket, and bleachers no longer smother the court and team benches.

It's as close to an NBA feel as this 71-year-old gym can get without losing its charm altogether. Although farther from the action, the students make their presence felt. The place is deafening when the Ducks are rolling.

Thursday, they were rolling.

``The difference was our fans,'' Kent said.

UCLA freshman Baron Davis was assessed an intentional foul and a technical. Otherwise, the Bruins kept their poise.

``I'm sure (the crowd) hyped them up,'' Johnson added. ``Of course, they'll play that way against us. When anybody else comes in here, they're just an average team.''

UCLA applied pressure defense at a moderate tempo - not the furious form it took in building a 23-3 lead over Oregon a month ago, or in wiping out Washington.

The passive pressure put the Bruins in purgatory. They did not force turnovers, and they could not recover in time to contest Oregon's jumpers.

``We have to get better defensively,'' Lavin said quietly.

Four consecutive UCLA turnovers gave Oregon the momentum midway through the first half, as the Ducks edged to a 20-15 lead. The Bruins responded with a run of their own and were in command 27-22 when the defense failed again, yielding open jumpers that revived the Ducks.

With UCLA's defense spread to defend the perimeter, Oregon switched to its frontcourt game. Jonathan Nelson and Flo Hartenstein slithered and spun their way past the over-aggressive Bruins, who jumped to the rafters with every fake. Nelson's free throws with 1:36 left gave the Ducks a 40-36 lead.

The Bruins closed with their best sequence of the half. First, Davis threaded the ball to Jelani McCoy for a layup. Then the Bruins played sound defense, forcing an errant shot. Finally, Toby Bailey grabbed an offensive rebound, dribbled away from the basket and fired the ball underneath to McCoy for a reserve jam and a 40-40 halftime score.

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Photo, Box

Photo: (Color) Mike McShane lays in two points as Oregon handed UCLA its fourth loss in five years in Eugene.

Associated Press

Box: PACIFIC 10 STANDINGS