SDSU takes down UCLA 78-69 in Wooden Classic
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Jamaal Franklin scored 21 of his 28 points in the second half and No. 23 San Diego State tied a season high with 11 3-pointers to win its fifth in a row, 78-69 over UCLA in the John R. Wooden Classic on Saturday night.
The Aztecs (5-1) ended an eight-game skid against the Bruins (5-3), beating them for the first time since Dec. 7, 1940.
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The teams were meeting for the first time since 1991 in a game named for the late UCLA coach.
Xavier Thames added 19 points, including five 3-pointers, and DeShawn Stephens had 12 points after playing just five minutes because of a hip pointer in San Diego State's previous game against Southern California.
The Aztecs had strong support and noisier fans in the announced crowd of 17,204 at Honda Center.
Jordan Adams scored a career-high 23 points, hitting five 3-pointers, Shabazz Muhammad added 16 points, Norman Powell had 10 points and Larry Drew had 11 assists.
The Bruins made eight 3-pointers, one off their season high of nine.
The teams traded 3-pointers to start the second half, with Adams hitting three in a row to pull the Bruins into a tie at 38-all.
Thames answered with two straight 3s and Franklin added another one to give the Aztecs the lead for good, 49-43.
The Bruins closed to 56-53 on Muhammad's first basket of the second half. The Aztecs outscored the Bruins 11-2, with Thames hitting their 11th 3-pointer and making two free throws in the spurt that gave San Diego State its largest lead at 67-55.
Muhammad and Adams combined to score six straight points and draw the Bruins to 69-64 with 2 minutes left. Franklin made 9 of 10 free throws in the final 1:38.
UCLA was searching for a win over a ranked opponent after falling out of the Top 25 this week after a two-point upset loss to Cal Poly last weekend.
The teams played evenly throughout the first half, with the Aztecs leading 31-29 at the break.
The Bruins fell to 11-5 in the Wooden Classic, formerly a doubleheader event.