Fed up with Michael Fey’s sluggish play Thursday night
against Oregon State, UCLA coach Ben Howland scoured the bench,
searching for a big man who could supply the Bruins with a jolt of
energy. Ryan Hollins provided UCLA with exactly that. Having played
sparingly this season, Hollins seized the opportunity, scoring nine
points in 25 minutes and igniting the Bruins with his spirited
effort and tenacious rebounding. “That’s what I try to
do, is give as much energy to the team as possible when I get in
there,” Hollins said. “If I get in, get a highlight
play, or get a big block, it will really spur on our team and give
the guys energy. Every time I’m in there, limited minutes or
not, I’m trying to make a play for the team.” It has
been a difficult season for Hollins, a part-time starter last year
who has seen his role dwindle recently. The junior center played
only two minutes in the Bruins’ first match-up with the
Beavers on New Year’s Eve, and a total of 18 minutes in last
week’s pair of victories. Yet, when UCLA needed him Thursday
night, Hollins delivered. After Oregon State reeled off nine
straight points early in the first half, it was Hollins who stemmed
the tide with an emphatic slam. After the Beavers trimmed
UCLA’s lead to 54-53 with six minutes remaining, it was
Hollins who gave them some breathing room, taking a charge and then
putting back Jordan Farmar’s missed lay-up on the ensuing
possession. “That’s why you really have to give him
credit,” senior Dijon Thompson said. “He doesn’t
know if he’s going to play, but when he does, he comes in and
plays hard.” Hollins scored six of his nine points in the
second half, going 3-for-4 from the field and draining a trio of
free throws. But it was his defensive intensity and ability to
crash the glass that persuaded Howland to leave him in the game for
the final 15 minutes. “I think he thought I played better
than Mike tonight, so he gave me a chance,” Hollins said.
“If I hadn’t played well, he’d have put Mike
right back in there.”
TECHNICALLY SPEAKING: Whistled for a technical foul midway
through the second half after mouthing off to the referee, Farmar
called it a misunderstanding after the game. “I screamed at
Dijon that (Oregon State’s Chris Stephens) grabbed me,”
Farmar said. “I guess the referee thought I was talking to
him.”
DRIBBLERS: Oregon State did not score until the 15:47 mark of
the first half when junior Nick DeWitz put back his own missed
runner … Hobbled by a right ankle sprain, UCLA’s Josh Shipp
played only seven second-half minutes … Arron Afflalo’s
eight first-half rebounds were one shy of a season-high.