Nov 10, 2002
Final Stats
By MEL REISNER
AP Sports Writer
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Freshman Tyler Ebell became the second player in UCLA
history to gain 100 yards rushing in six straight games as the Bruins defeated
Arizona 37-7 Saturday night.
Ebell, who has only seen extended playing time in those six games, had 124
yards on 22 carries and scored on runs of 22 and 19 yards.
Gaston Green holds the UCLA record with seven straight 100-yard games, in
1986.
Drew Olson threw a 33-yard scoring pass to Craig Bragg, and Nate Fikse
kicked three field goals, including a career-best 51-yarder, to help the Bruins
(7-3, 4-2 Pac-10) win their third straight.
Nic Costa threw a 92-yard scoring pass to Andre Thurman for the Wildcats
(3-7, 0-6), who have lost six in a row for the first time since joining the
Pac-10 in 1978.
Ebell played little in the second half, allowing veterans Akil Harris and
Manuel White to touch the ball. White had a 1-yard TD run in the third quarter.
Ebell gained 60 yards on his first three carries, including a 2-yard plunge
on third-and-2 early in UCLA's 80-yard drive.
His next two runs were highlight-reel variety. He cut back against the grain
for 36 yards to the Arizona 22 and scored on the next play to send the Bruins
to a 7-0 lead just 2:13 into the game.
He made it 17-0 with a 19-yard run early in the second quarter, shaking a
leg tackle at the 15. The 54-yard drive was set up when Spencer Havner, who
earlier blocked a field goal, jarred the ball loose from Thurman after a catch
and Ben Emanuel II recovered.
Thurman and the Wildcats responded with the longest pass play in the Pac-10
this year when they got the ball back.
Costa, a freshman brought in to gain experience, was nearly sacked in the
end zone by diving linebacker Marcus Reese, but he stayed upright and threw the
ball as far as he could. Thurman caught it at the 50, shook off cornerback
Ricky Manning Jr. and ran unimpeded to the end zone.
But it was only Arizona's second TD in 14 quarters, hardly enough against a
team that's hoping for an upper-level bowl bid.
Reese had two of UCLA's six sacks as the Bruins held Arizona to 12 yards
rushing.
