LOS ANGELES — Desperate to end a two-game skid, UCLA coach Steve Alford knew change was in order.
He didn’t start senior Tony Parker for the first time in 22 games this season, replacing him with more athletic sophomore Jonah Bolden. The injection of fresh blood worked.
UCLA built an early 20-point lead in the second half and cruised past last-place Washington State 83-50 Saturday.
Isaac Hamilton scored 11 of his 22 points in the final 5 ½ minutes, Bryce Alford added 12 points, making all seven of his free throws, and the Bruins (13-9, 4-5 Pac-12) went 24 of 28 from the line in salvaging a split after losing to first-place Washington 86-84 on Thursday.
Alford realized playing one big man at a time might help the Bruins more than having both Parker and Thomas Welsh in the lineup together. Welsh had 10 points and 10 rebounds and Parker had 11 points along with four fouls.
“We’re really getting exposed playing two centers at once,” Alford said. “We have to get more athletic and be able to play the way we like playing. I appreciate Tony. He handled it really well. He’s had a terrific attitude the last two days.”
Parker was 5 of 5 from the foul line and took a charge.
“That hasn’t happened all year,” Alford said.
Aaron Holiday added 10 points for the Bruins, who avenged an 85-78 road loss to the Cougars earlier this month.
Bolden had three points and seven rebounds in place of Parker.
“It was definitely a big change,” Welsh said. “We’re definitely more athletic with Jonah in the game. It’s going to be helpful for us being more efficient offensively and defensively going forward.”
Ike Iroegbu scored 16 points to lead Washington State, which has lost seven in a row. The Cougars had 18 turnovers, including 10 in the first half when UCLA led by 13 at the break.
“We could have lived with the turnovers if we were able to knock down shots,” WSU coach Ernie Kent said.
The Cougars (9-12, 1-8) closed within eight early in the second half before UCLA went on a 14-7 run that extended its lead to 50-30. Alford had five points and Holiday three as five different players scored.
“UCLA had great confidence and really took control in the second half,” Kent said.
From there, the Cougars never made another run. Hamilton fired off 11 straight points by himself, capping his offensive outburst with a pair of 3-pointers that made it 76-48.
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