UCLA REFUSES TO FOLD, TAKES OVER FIRST : COMEBACK EFFORT TOPS ARIZONA IN OT UCLA 84, ARIZONA 78.

Byline: Jon Wilner Daily News Staff Writer

The difference was a look. That's all. In a game with season-long repercussions, the defining moment was a look from UCLA coach Steve Lavin.

Here's why: With seven minutes left, the Bruins trailed Arizona by eight points and were nearing their meltdown stage - the moment execution, cohesion and confidence collapse in unison.

When the meltdown moment arrived against Kansas and Stanford, Lavin had called timeout. So when Arizona's lead expanded, the Bruins naturally turned to their 32-year-old coach for help.

``Everyone thought we needed a timeout at that point,'' UCLA forward Kris Johnson said.

Everyone except Lavin. He shot the Bruins a look that said, play on.

``He left the game up to us,'' Charles O'Bannon said. ``It was his way of saying, `Did we have the desire to win?' ''

And that - not UCLA's size or free-throw shooting, not Arizona's speed or resourcefulness - was the story of UCLA's 84-78 overtime victory Saturday before 11,286 fans at Pauley Pavilion.

``This was not about ability, execution or skill level,'' J.R. Henderson said. ``It was about who wanted it more.''

The Bruins responded to Lavin's no-call with a 15-8 surge that sent the game hurtling toward overtime and another classic finish in the West Coast's best rivalry. Seven of the past 13 showdowns have been decided by five points or less, or in overtime.

The victory was UCLA's seventh in eight games. Entering a four-game road trip that starts Thursday at USC and includes stops in Louisville and Oregon, the Bruins are atop the Pacific-10 standings at 5-1

``If we had lost today with that road trip coming up, it wouldn't have been good,'' Henderson said. ``I don't know how we would have reacted.''

UCLA's power rating, so crucial to its NCAA Tournament fate, received a much-needed boost. Rated 40th when the week began and embarrassed by the only ranked opponents it had faced, UCLA now has a victory over a top-10 team on its resume. It is also a step closer to the 18-win barrier, which should ensure an at-large berth.

``This is one of the biggest games of the season because of the implications,'' Johnson said. ``But we can't pinpoint games. We have to approach each one like it's the biggest of the year.''

Typical of the rivalry, there were myriad subplots. A few demand mention.

Unlike previous years - Brian Williams against Don MacLean, Tyus Edney against Damon Stoudamire - this was not a clash of individuals. Rather, it was a matchup of styles: UCLA's size against Arizona's speed.

The size won.

``Their ability to get on the glass just killed us,'' Arizona coach Lute Olson said. ``We did a great job stopping what they wanted to do offensively, but we couldn't get any rebounds.''

The Bruins missed all seven 3-point attempts, but it mattered little. The ball went inside almost every possession, as UCLA figured any miss was a rebound opportunity. In all, the Bruins grabbed 21 of the 40 rebounds available at their offensive end.

Arizona had no choice but to foul, and it did that well: point guard Mike Bibby and both centers, A.J. Bramlett and Donnell Harris, fouled out. That left the Wildcats with a forward and four guards on the court for the stretch run. The Bruins, meanwhile, did not commit a foul in the final 11 minutes.

``All they wanted to do was power it inside,'' Arizona guard Jason Terry said. ``That's all they did all (day), and it kind of wore us down.''

Arizona's fouls meant UCLA foul shots, and the Bruins responded with their best free-throw performance of the season. They hit 20 of their last 24 from the line, including six consecutive in the final minute of overtime.

O'Bannon and Arizona guard Miles Simon submitted the top individual efforts. Simon, a Mater Dei product, scored 14 in the second half and hit a 3-pointer that nearly caused a UCLA meltdown.

O'Bannon scored a game-high 24 points, grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds and harassed Arizona's leading scorer, Michael Dickerson, into 5-of-16 shooting. He also snared several crucial loose balls and made two free throws with 27 seconds left to secure the victory.

CLOSE CALLS

Seven of the past 13 UCLA-Arizona games have been decided by five points or less (or in overtime):

Year Winner Score

1997 UCLA 84-78 (overtime)

1996 UCLA 76-75

1995 UCLA 72-70

1993 Arizona 82-80

1992 UCLA 89-87

1991 Arizona 82-77

1991 Arizona 105-94 (overtime)

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos, Chart

Photo: (1--color) Toby Bailey, left, and Charles O'Bannon of UCLA battle Arizona's Michael Dickerson for a rebound.

(2) UCLA's Jelani McCoy, right, gets above Arizona's A.J. Bramlett for the ball. The Bruins consistently beat Arizona on rebound chances.

David Sprague / Daily News

Chart: CLOSE CALLS (see text)