BRUINS' PROGRESS IS HARD TO STOMACH UC RIVERSIDE PUSHES SLUGGISH UCLA UCLA 65, UC RIVERSIDE 50.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

It's only December, but the Masters of Lowered Expectations - otherwise known as the UCLA basketball team - already are in midseason form.

How far have the Bruins come from their No. 5 preseason ranking?

In just a few weeks, far enough to consider Wednesday night's 66-50 comeback win over UC Riverside before 6,704 at Pauley Pavilion a sign of progress.

Never mind that the winless Highlanders, in their first season of Division I basketball, entered the game as 29-point underdogs and with an RPI ranking of 280 among 321 teams.

``We've got a long way to go, but we'll take the win,'' said UCLA coach Steve Lavin. ``There were some positive steps. Are we there yet? Absolutely not.''

The Bruins, in their first game without freshman point guard Cedric Bozeman, were rudderless on offense, often listless on defense and thankful that they were playing Riverside and not 15th-ranked Alabama, whom they play Saturday at the Pond in the Wooden Classic.

``When you're 2-2, a win is a win,'' said forward Matt Barnes. ``But we've got to pick it up. There's something wrong with this team that we haven't figured out. The sooner we do it, the better.''

And yet, a victory really was progress after the way the Bruins played in the first half - particularly in the effort category.

The Bruins (3-2), who had a week to stew over their loss to Pepperdine, had promised to come out with renewed energy. Center Dan Gadzuric won the opening tip and two Bruins watched the ball go between them and out of bounds.

On UCLA's first possession, the ball was sent into Gadzuric, who turned and fired up a shot that hit nothing. On the next possession, Rico Hines, starting in place of Bozeman, was called for traveling after coming to a jump stop on a drive into the lane.

It took the Bruins 4:43 to score their first basket - a tip-in by Gadzuric.

The Bruins' looked discombobulated on offense, trying forward Jason Kapono, wing Dijon Thompson and seldom-used backup Ryan Walcott at point guard - none of whom were effective. The Bruins had two assists in the first half and neither were from their set offense. They turned the ball over 18 times for the game.

``Until Cedric gets back, we're going to have to hold the fort down,'' Lavin said of the point-guard position. ``No excuses, we just have to do better.''

The point guards aren't the only ones. Hines and Gadzuric, who have struggled all season, continued to do so.

Gadzuric had 11 points and 10 rebounds, but instead of dominating the smallish Highlanders, he shot two air balls, missed an uncontested tomahawk dunk and had a team-high four turnovers.

Hines, getting his first start, continued his season-long scoring drought - and that's not a figure of speech. Hines, who has played 84 minutes this season, has yet to score a point.

The 6-foot-5 senior was 0 for 5 from the field and turned the ball over three times. He's 0 for 12 from the field this season.

``Rico did a great job tonight,'' Lavin said of Hines, who had five rebounds, three steals and two assists. ``He gives us a spark, leadership and passion on the floor.''

The Bruins, listless in the first half, were fortunate to be tied (28-28) at halftime when Kapono hit two free throws with one second left.

In the second half, the Bruins overwhelmed undersized UC Riverside (0-5), who had one starter taller than 6-foot-6, with 17 offensive rebounds. That, combined with a seven-minute UCR scoreless stretch that the Bruins turned into a 16-0 run, doomed the Highlanders.

Kapono had five offensive rebounds and twice during the Bruins' run, grabbed missed free throws by Gadzuric and scored on follow shots.

``Come on,'' said UCR coach John Masi. ``We've got to have a little junkyard dog in us. Throw him to the ground if you have to, but you can't give those up.''

UCR shot just 34.7 percent from the field and center Vili Morton, UCR's leading scorer and rebounder, managed just one point and six rebounds. But it had more to do with UCR's shooting than UCLA's defense.

``They didn't shoot very well, but they got quality shots,'' Kapono said. ``We haven't found or groove or rhythm yet. Last year it took us eight or 10 games, and it looks like the same thing. We don't have all five guys playing well right now.''

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

UCLA guard Billy Knight, here blocking a layup by Jason Perkins, and his teammates had to work to beat UC Riverside.

John Hayes/Associated Press