MADDEN-ING LOSS FOR UCLA : DUCKS' OT WIN DROPS BRUINS INTO 1ST-PLACE TIE OREGON 87 UCLA 85.

Byline: Jon Wilner Daily News Staff Writer

They kept their poise in the din of McArthur Court and kept their wits in the pressure-packed end-game, but in the final seconds of overtime, the UCLA Bruins could not keep Oregon down.

Ducks forward Henry Madden made a drifting, eight-foot jumper with two seconds left in overtime to give Oregon a thrilling 87-85 victory over UCLA Thursday night before 10,024 at Mac Court.

``In the six years I've been in the league, this is the best game I've been a part of,'' UCLA coach Steve Lavin said. ``It went back and forth, leads were exchanged, and no team could pull away until the last second.''

UCLA guard Toby Bailey sent the game into overtime with a difficult, leaning 3-point basket with six seconds left.

``I saw how much time was left and I was just trying to get something up,'' he said.

But Bailey could not duplicate the feat in overtime, missing a 28-footer at the buzzer.

Madden's shot capped a frenetic final possession that began with 16 seconds left, when UCLA rushed Ducks point guard Kenya Wilkins, forcing him to give up the ball.

``We didn't want (sharp-shooting guard) Jamal Lawrence or Wilkins to beat us,'' Lavin said. ``We didn't want one of their primary go-to guys to beat us. We were playing the law of averages.''

The Ducks passed it around the perimeter until Jamar Curry hit Madden in the lane. He took two dribbles to his left, then fired over a late-arriving Charles O'Bannon.

``I just tried to get the ball as close to the hole as I could. I saw Charles come over on me and pulled up,'' Madden said.

Combined with the Lousville defeat, UCLA has lost back-to-back games for the first time since the end of the 1994 season (at Oregon, Tulsa in the NCAA Tournament).

But the Bruins - now 6-2 in the Pac-10 and tied with Arizona for first place - can maintain a 14-win pace with a victory Saturday at Oregon State.

``I told the guys we need to split on the road and win at home, and if we do that we'll have a chance to win the conference championship,'' Lavin said. ``I never tell the guys anything is a must-win game. But Oregon State is more significant now.''

The game was as even as the statistics: UCLA shot 51.7 percent from the field; Oregon shot 51.6. The Bruins grabbed 33 rebounds; Oregon, 32.

Wilkins, a Dorsey High product, was the Ducks' MVP, with all 18 of his points after halftime.

``UCLA always tends to bring out the best in L.A. natives,'' Lavin said.

Bailey led UCLA with 24 points, but several Bruins played well. Jelani McCoy had 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists. O'Bannon added 17 points, and J.R. Henderson had 11 despite foul trouble.

``I don't have any thoughts right now,'' Henderson said in the near-silent Bruin locker room. ``I'm just trying to think about the next game. There's nothing we can do about it now.

``But this definitely hurts more than Louisville. Even though that was close, this was overtime, and we thought we got a break with Toby's shot. We thought we could have won.''

Wilkins sparked Oregon early in the second half with a 3-pointer and two nifty drives through UCLA's upright defense. The second lay-up gave Oregon a 51-45 lead and energized the anxious crowd.

The momentum shifted during the middle third of the half. UCLA regrouped and took a small lead. Then the Ducks rallied, then UCLA, and with nine minutes left the teams were even, 60-60.

Oregon led 72-65 with four minutes left, but the Bruins kept their composure and tightened their defense. O'Bannon picked up the fifth foul on Ducks center Kyle Milling, then hit two free throws.

Lawrence, one of the league's best 3-point shooters, missed badly from the left wing, and Cameron Dollar passed through the Duck defense to McCoy for dunk.

Oregon failed to score again and O'Bannon's hanging jumper narrowed the deficit to 72-71.

With 1:15 left, Wilkins hit two free throws, prompting Bailey's desperation 3-pointer from the right corner, with Lawrence in his face.

Oregon started the overtime just as it did regulation - with two quick jumpers. But McCoy caught the Ducks celebrating a 79-74 lead and converted a three-point play.

He made another critical play with 1:30 left, grabbing an errant Henderson free throw and lofting the ball in from six feet to complete a four-point Bruins possession. (Henderson was fouled while converting a twisting layup.)

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Photo

Photo: (Color) Oregon's Kyle Milling hangs from the rim after a missed dunk, drawing a technical foul.

Associated Press