AARON HOLIDAY GOES FOR TWO VS. JEFF POLLARD.

DRICK BERNSTINE was on the bench with a tweaked knee, putting the Cougars at a decided disadvantage on the boards, but Washington State coach Ernie Kent liked the way his team hung with UCLA in the Pac-12 opener Friday night at Pauley Pavilion -- staying within two possessions much of the way and closing to within two points with 9:25 left -- but he was matter-of-fact about the work down the stretch of team leaders Robert Franks and Malachi Flynn.

"They've just got to play tougher basketball," Kent said in his post-game radio interview "I kinda got after 'em a little bit." By tougher, he was mostly talking about defense and diving for loose balls.

"We've got to get better at that end of the floor," said the former Kamikaze Kid.

Kent noted that the Cougars shot 55 percent from the field in the second half but the Bruins were at 56 and also hitting most of their free throws.

The end result was a 96-82 UCLA victory that dropped the Cougars to 8-5 on the season and improved the Bruins to 10-3.

"We played well but we broke down at critical times of the game," Kent said.

The absence of Bernstine, who hurt his knee in practice, was notable on the boards. UCLA held a 43-30 advantage on the glass, including a 14-3 edge in offensive rebounds. Kent said he thinks Bernstine may be able to play Sunday at USC.

Franks led the way for the Cougars on offense with 20 points but it was once again JC transfer Carter Skaggs, coming of the bench, who had crimson pulses racing with his shooting from downtown. He canned his fourth trey of the game at the 9:25 mark to bring the Cougars within two points. He finished with 17 points, draining 5 of 8 from downtown.

"The thing I like about Carter is he just loves to play the game -- it doesn't matter if it's in Pauley Pavilion or practice," Kent said. "He's not most athletic guy but he's a baller, a hooper, he loves to play, loves to rise up ... UCLA made some adjustments and had to take him out of the game and hide him a bit."

Second-year freshman guard Milan Acquaah, who has struggled much of the season, turned in a breakout in his hometown. The Cathedral High product came off the bench to hit 5 of 7 shots and tally 13 points. He also grabbed 6 rebounds, nabbed 2 steals and dished 1 assist.

"It's the best he's played and I told him that in the locker room ... I'm proud of him ... he was making the right reads, good on defense, he grew tonight," Kent said.

Jeff Pollard was the only other Cougs in double figures, scoring 12 on 4 of 6 shooting and pulling down 5 rebounds. His two misses were layups down the stretch.

Aaron Holiday led the way for UCLA as he scored 33 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.

NEXT UP: The Cougs are at USC -- which lost Friday to UW -- on Sunday for a 6 pm tip (ESPN2).

RELATED STORY: Carter Skaggs rewarding faith of Kent and Seltzer

MILAN ACQUAAH DRIVES ON JAYLEN HANDS IN FIRST HALF.

?WSU:

STARTERS MIN FG 3PT FT OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS R. Franks F -- 7-16 3-9 3-4 0 8 8 3 1 1 2 2 20 J. Pollard F -- 4-6 0-0 4-6 1 4 5 1 1 0 0 3 12 M. Flynn G -- 3-9 3-8 0-0 0 2 2 4 0 0 0 3 9 V. Daniels G -- 1-4 0-3 1-2 0 1 1 3 0 0 0 2 3 K. Hinson G -- 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 BENCH MIN FG 3PT FT OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS D. Cooper F -- 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 A. Chidom F -- 2-5 1-3 3-4 1 3 4 0 0 0 0 2 8 C. Skaggs G -- 6-10 5-8 0-0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 3 17 M. Acquaah G -- 5-7 2-4 1-2 0 6 6 1 2 0 4 4 13 TEAM 28-59 14-35 12-18 3 27 30 14 4 1 8 23 82 47.5% 40.0% 66.7%

UCLA: