Leaf scores 32, No. 11 UCLA beats Washington State 95-79
Published 8:30 pm Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Associated Press
PULLMAN — Freshman forward T.J. Leaf scored a season-high 32 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as No. 11 UCLA beat Washington State 95-79 on Wednesday night to stop a two-game slide.
Thomas Welsh added 17 points for UCLA (20-3, 7-3 Pac-12), and Lonzo Ball had 14.
Ike Iroegbu scored 20 points for Washington State (11-11, 4-6), which was coming off a win at Arizona State. Conor Clifford added 16 points and Josh Hawkinson had 15.
The game was close for the first 30 minutes before a rash of turnovers by Washington State allowed the Bruins to pull away.
In the first half, Washington State led 19-17 when the Bruins went on a 16-4 run to take a 10-point lead. That held up as UCLA led 44-34 at halftime behind 16 points and nine rebounds from Leaf.
Washington State sank three quick 3-pointers to open the second half, cutting UCLA’s lead to 46-43.
The teams traded baskets, with Leaf making four key buckets that kept the Bruins ahead when the Cougars threatened to tie the game.
Welsh sank two baskets during an 8-2 run that gave UCLA a 66-57 lead midway through the second half, and the Bruins pulled away after that.
UCLA holds a 105-17 lead in the all-time series.
