BRUINS WANT CAL'S PAULEY STREAK TO END.

Byline: Jon Wilner Daily News Staff Writer

Jim Harrick strolled down the Pauley Pavilion court, then made a sharp left turn and approached California coach Todd Bozeman on the opposite sideline.

They shook hands, then Harrick put his left hand on Bozeman's shoulder as they laughed. A minute later, Harrick was showing off his golf swing. The camaraderie continued as UCLA assistant Lorenzo Romar chatted with several Cal players and Harrick teased Bears guard Jelani Gardner about his improved physique.

It looked like one big, happy family, but that facade ends at 2 p.m. today when the Bears and Bruins meet with history and first place in the Pacific-10 at stake.

Cal has won three straight in Pauley and only one opponent, Notre Dame (1977-80), has won four in a row in the hallowed arena. "It's early in the year, but to say this is just another game in the conference is probably wrong," Harrick said.

The spirited mood Friday was a sharp contrast to the tense atmosphere of last year when the Bruins began stretching before Cal finished its workout. Bozeman, an ardent practitioner of the "us-against-the-world" theme, rode UCLA's perceived disrespect to victory.

"Emotion plays a big part in this series," Romar said, "and every year they come in here, they're sky high. The first two of those years they had Jason Kidd (and Lamond Murray) and last year their L.A. kids came in here ready to play."

Gardner, formerly of St. John Bosco, scored 18 points and Tremaine Fowlkes, of Crenshaw High, had 24 and seven rebounds. (Fowlkes will not play today; he is serving an NCAA-imposed half-season suspension for accepting money from a sports agent.)

For the Bruins to end the three-game skid at home, they must prevent Cal from taking a large early lead, which the Bears have done in all three wins.

"They jump out early on us and we fold the tent," UCLA senior Kevin Dempsey said. "They seem to have eight guys get career highs. They put the ball behind their back and in the basket and just do whatever it takes, and we haven't been ready for it."

CAL (8-3, 3-0) AT NO. 17 UCLA (10-3, 3-0)

Tip-off: 2 p.m., at Pauley Pavilion.

On the air: Channel 7; XTRA-AM (690).

UCLA update: The Bruins have won eight straight, shooting 53.7 percent from the field and holding opponents to 37 percent in that span.

Cal update: The Bears have won three straight since moving point guard Prentice McGruder into the starting lineup and shifting Jelani Gardner from point to wing guard. McGruder and backup Anwar McQueen have 23 assists and four turnovers in Pacific-10 play and have given the Bears the floor leadership their scorers need. The Bears also recently moved scorer Ed Gray to the bench, and he has flourished as a sixth man, averaging 17 points and shooting 53.3 from 3-point range in the five games. Tenacious wing man Randy Duck is a 3-point threat (41 percent) and one of the Bears' floor leaders.

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Box CAL (8-3, 3-0) AT NO. 17 UCLA (10-3, 3-0) (see text)