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Darren Collison scored 10 points and had a key defensive stop at the end of the game for UCLA's first-round victory. AP Photo/Michael Perez
#6 UCLA Bruins defeat #11 Virginia Commonwealth Rams 65-64. The game was awfully like UCLA's entire season. There were some good points when they took a double digit lead. There were bad points when they couldn't score a point for long stretches. But in the end it was defense that saved them. Down by one point with 11 seconds left to go, VCU inbounded the ball to Eric Maynor. Darren Collison was draped all over him and forced a short shot to preserve the Bruin victory. Up next for the Bruins is Villanova on Saturday on what can essentially be called home-court advantage for Nova.
#2 Memphis Tigers defeat #15 CSUN Matadors 81-70. The game was much closer than the final score indicates. In fact Northridge had a lead with seven minutes left to go in the game. But they suddenly went cold while the Tigers capitalized down the stretch. There was a lot of cussing involved when the thought of the team I have going to the finals could be ousted in the first round. Fortunately for everyone in a five mile radius around me that didn't happen.
LA Lakers defeat Golden State Warriors 114-106. This is getting a little alarming now. Yet again the Lakers led by double digits in the fourth quarter but squandered most of it away. Thankfully the Lakers managed to get some stops down the stretch unlike the other night against Philly. Lamar Odom had a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. But those turnovers. Yikes.
Anaheim Ducks defeat Phoenix Coyotes 3-2 (SO). Although the Ducks couldn't take care of the game in regulation again, fortunately it was only against the Coyotes who are nowhere near playoff contention. So no ground lost. Bobby Ryan knocked in the deciding goal in shootout to get the Ducks within two points of the eighth playoff spot. Rob Niedermayer played in this 1,000th NHL game. This makes him and his brother Scott the fourth pair of brother to play in at least 1,000 NHL games each.
LA Kings defeat Boston Bruins 3-2 (OT). Color me surprised. The Kings trailed 2-0 midway through the third period against the top team in the East. But a power play goal by Michal Handzus with 10:30 left and a goal by Drew Doughty with 1:36 left tied the game for the Kings. Dustin Brown provided the game winning goal in overtime with 35 seconds left. This was a gutsy win for the Kings on their first game of a six-game road trip. They still trail by six points for the eighth seed in the playoffs.
Tonight's Action
#10 USC Trojans at #7 Boston College Eagles. 4:20 pm CBS, AM 710 KSPN.
LA Kings at Pittsburgh Penguins. 4:30 pm FS West, AM 1260 KGIL (tape delay after Clippers game)
LA Clippers at Detroit Pistons. 5:00 pm KTLA 5, AM 1260 KGIL
