UCLA basketball: Horrid start puts Bruins on track for historic defeat at halftime

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Washington State was missing players.

Intensity and focus were in short supply for UCLA.

The Bruins came out with one of their half-hearted starts Saturday afternoon at Friel Court, forcing Coach Ben Howland to burn four timeouts in the first 15 minutes while watching his team being carved up by backdoor layups and open three-pointers.

The Cougars led by as many as 15 points before a pair of free throws by UCLA’s Lazeric Jones cut the Bruins’ deficit to 32-19 at halftime. Washington State has not defeated UCLA here since Feb. 6, 1993, losing its last 17 games.

A UCLA loss could drop the Bruins to a No. 3 seeding in the Pacific Life Pac-10 tournament next week if Washington defeats USC later Saturday.

Forward Brock Motum had nine points off the bench for the Cougars, who were missing starters Klay Thompson and Reggie Moore. Thompson was suspended after being cited for possession of marijuana Thursday and Moore is sitting out because of a sprained right ankle.

Thompson took a courtside microphone and addressed the crowd before the game.

‘I would do anything to play today, but unfortunately that’s not the case,’ he said. ‘I just want to apologize and say I’m truly sorry.’

The Bruins had all the regrets once the game started, getting burned on defense and failing to attack on offense. Sophomore forward Reeves Nelson had nine points but junior guard Malcolm Lee, sophomore forward Tyler Honeycutt and Jones combined to make one of 13 shots. UCLA shot 28% to Washington State’s 48%

--Ben Bolch in Pullman, Wash.