Suspension Keeps Bailey on Bench

Guard Ryan Bailey, a key reserve, served a one-game suspension Sunday at Washington for breaking an unspecified team rule.

Although the Bruins did not disclose the infraction, it did not appear to be serious.

Coach Steve Lavin said Bailey will be back in uniform when Oregon comes to Pauley Pavilion on Thursday night.

His absence against the Huskies proved critical when Baron Davis fouled out with 4:34 left in UCLA’s 93-83 loss.

But Bailey was also relegated to the bench in a game when the starting guards both played well.

Earl Watson had a career-high 24 points, although he also committed seven turnovers, and Davis scored 20 points.

“I wasn’t really feeling it the first half,” said Bailey, who is averaging 17.7 minutes overall and shooting 48.6% in his eight conference appearances. “We had a good lead, a solid lead [44-36]. But in the second half, people started getting in foul trouble, and I knew I could have been out there and could have been helping us win.

“That’s when it hit home. I was feeling bad. But it’s just a one-game thing. I’ll be back. Coach Lavin won’t be having any more problems from me.”

*

Lavin made the lineup change at small forward he had been considering, a move that sent JaRon Rush and his troubled shooting stroke to the bench, but opted for Matt Barnes instead of Ray Young as the replacement.

Barnes had two points, four rebounds and four fouls in 12 minutes. Young played 20 minutes, but didn’t take a shot, negating the boost for the perimeter game Lavin had hoped for.

Rush got 30 minutes--more than two starters--but also missed five of seven shots. That puts him at 34.8% overall and 31.3% in conference.

* Thursday vs. Oregon, 7:30, Pauley Pavilion--Bruins recorded one of their biggest victories of the season with 65-63 win over Ducks on Jan. 9 in Eugene. Feb. 7 vs. Oregon State.