EXPERIENCE WINS OUT IN BUDDY BATTLE.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

SAN JOSE - They did not look alike. Did not really act alike. Did not walk out of the arena alike.

They might have even acknowledged each other less during the game than if the opponent were some complete stranger.

Ben Howland, mentor, and Jamie Dixon, protege. Not the billing either really desired at this point, not the area they ever wanted the focus.

Yet what made the UCLA-Pitt showdown in the Sweet 16 so intriguing Thursday was this odd coaching matchup. Howland, who had twice hired Dixon to be his assistant -- including at Pitt -- now matched against his former student.

That UCLA would ultimately look as the better team should have come as no real surprise, the Bruins clearly having the superior, quicker athletes.

Still, the chess match between the two was a curious show in itself, even after UCLA established itself the better team before coming in with a 64-55 victory at the HP Pavilion.

When the final horn sounded, they shook hands at midcourt and had only the briefest of exchanges. There was no, "Yes, Obi-Won." No embrace, no outward sign that they are the closest of friends.

Before the game, with the two teams' locker rooms directly across from each other, Howland admitted there was a different sense to the game.

"Before the game, it was surreal," Howland said.

The very real victory advances UCLA into the Elite Eight on Saturday, when it will face No. 1 seed Kansas. That leaves little time for reflection, for observing this friendly, awkward meeting.

"It's a little tough," Dixon said. "It didn't feel too different during the game.

"Right now it just feels like a loss, a bad one, an end-of-the-year loss."

It was not exactly mirror-mirror, but clearly the two schools -- particularly their defenses -- had vast similarities.

UCLA was just a little better at it. The doubles that Pitt knew were coming, were just too well done, too quick, too smothering.

"Those doubles come really quick with the athletes we have," Howland said.

UCLA took the lead early and never once trailed.

They appeared in control, yet could never truly pull away.

Howland stood for most of the game, constantly shouting out instruction: "Indiana, Indiana!"

"Motion, motion!"

"Push it, push it!"

Dixon mostly remained seated, sometimes crouching, though in the second half as the game threatened to get away, he was up on his feet more, imploring the Panthers, critiquing the officials.

After the game began, the two never once looked at each other. They would scream instruction. Both carried a card with notes in a pocket they would occasionally spy a quick look at.

The Bruins led by six at the half, and then pushed their lead to as many as 12 in the second half. They were in control, and just about everyone not wearing Pitt blue and gold could sense it.

A late barrage of 3-pointers cut the UCLA lead to five, but the Bruins made their fouls shots and just pulled away.

UCLA won despite not getting a single field goal in the second half from Arron Afflalo or Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, and not one from Darren Collison until the final seconds.

Those are three of UCLA's top four scorers.

But everyone knew it would be a defensive battle, and that was clearly won by the Bruins. UCLA shot only 42.9 percent from the field, but held Pitt to just 36.4 percent.

The first meeting had gone to Howland, though he was not eager for any rematch.

"I hope we never play again," Howland said.

Howland had to stop and gather his emotions once during the postgame news conference when asked about playing his former school, mentioning former players and staff members.

"It's emotional for me," Howland said. "Because it's aplayers' game. It's about the relationships. I love those kids. Neither Jamie or I would be where we are without those players."

Howland, of course, had these UCLA players last year when they went on a run that carried them all the way to the NCAA championship game.

That experience no doubt played into Thursday's victory, and could prove a keyagain Saturday.

These Bruins play like they've been here before.

Last year, there was almost this sense of discovery as UCLA honed in and seemed to improve with every game.

That run included a spectacular comeback against Gonzaga in a Sweet 16 matchup.

This UCLA team plays with confidence borne from that run, with perhaps less exuberance but with greater calm, a sense of purpose.

This Sweet 16 was less dramatic from the game than the coaching matchup.

Two old friends, two old roommates, sharing yet one other experience neither had desired. The first meeting had gone to the more experienced -- the coach and the tournament team.

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