UCLA basketball: Are Bruins needlessly huffing and puffing?

UCLA Coach Ben Howland recently voiced concerns about his team's conditioning, saying the Bruins "were really sucking air" as the result of practicing on a high-school length court inside the men's gymnasium on campus while Pauley Pavilion undergoes renovations.

Here's the thing: UCLA has a regulation court available to practice on and isn't using it.

School spokesman Ryan Finney said the Bruins are not using the Wooden Center, which features a college-length court and will be used by the women's team for its home games this season, because of two factors: difficulty coordinating practice times with student workouts and intramurals, as well as Howland's preference for holding closed practices.

If the Bruins practiced at the Wooden Center, Finney said, they would not be able to close the facility to other students.

Asked Sunday after UCLA's 80-72 exhibition victory over Cal State San Bernardino if he thought his team's conditioning had improved from its closed scrimmage against Cal State Fullerton, Howland said: "I thought our guys were really excited. I thought Reeves [Nelson] got tired early in the game because sometimes you have the adrenaline flowing so much. Everybody was kind of like that to start the game. I think our conditioning will continue to get better as we keep pushing it, but I don't want to overdo it either."

Nelson said the Bruins had taken measures to improve their conditioning, including extra running in practice to make up for the shortened length of the court inside the men's gym.

No. 17 UCLA opens its season Friday night at the Sports Arena against Loyola Marymount.

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-- Ben Bolch

Two Penn State officials step down in wake of sex-abuse scandal

Two Penn State officials facing charges in connection with sex-abuse allegations involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky have decided to step down following an emergency session of the university's board of trustees.

Penn State Athletic Director Tim Curley has asked for a leave of absence and Gary Schultz, vice president for finance and business, will go back into retirement as they face charges of covering up allegations against Sandusky, a longtime defensive coordinator who retired in 1999.

Sandusky is charged with sexually abusing eight boys over a 15-year period. Curley and Schultz have been charged with failing to report that a witness told them he saw Sandusky sexually abusing a naked boy in the locker room showers in 2002. All three men facing charges have said they are innocent.

The charges have rocked what had been considered a clean program run by legendary Coach Joe Paterno, who has more wins than any other NCAA Division I coach with 409. Paterno earlier in the day released a statement saying he was shocked and saddened by the allegations. A university spokesman said the possibility of resignations by Paterno and President Graham Spanier was not discussed Sunday night.

Sandusky, once considered Paterno's heir apparent, used the school's facilities to work with a foundation, the Second Mile, he established to help at-risk kids. Curley and Schultz were accused of failing to alert police of their investigation into the allegations as required by state law.

“This is a case about a sexual predator who used his position within the university and community to repeatedly prey on young boys,” state Atty. General Linda Kelly said Saturday.

-- Dan Loumena

Associated Press contributed to this report.

ALSO:

Ex-Penn State assistant football coach accused of sexual abuse

No. 1 LSU wins 'Game of the Century' — but which century is it?

UCLA beats Arizona State for share of Pac-12 South lead

Photo: Penn State Coach Joe Paterno, center, is presented with a plaque by university President Graham Spanier, left, and Athletic Director Tim Curley after becoming the winningest coach in NCAA Division I football. Credit: Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press

Galaxy earns spot in MLS title game with 3-1 win

A first-half penalty-kick score from Landon Donovan and second-half goals by Mike Magee and Robbie Keane lifted the Galaxy to a 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake at the Home Depot Center on Sunday, giving it Major League Soccer's Western Conference crown and earning a trip to the MLS title game in two weeks on its home field.

Real Salt Lake's goal came on a header by Alvaro Saborio midway through the first half.

The Galaxy will meet the Houston Dynamo in the championship game Nov. 20 Houston won the Eastern Conference final Sunday, upsetting Sporting Kansas City, 2-0, despite losing midfielder Brad Davis, a leading MVP candidate, to a strained right quadriceps late in the first half.

Houston’s goals, both in the second half, came from Andre Hainault and Carlos Costly.

The Galaxy and Real Salt Lake, meanwhile, were the most difficult teams to score against during the MLS regular season. And Sunday, playing in chilly weather before an announced crowd of 23,437, they showed why, bending but rarely breaking on the defensive end.

The Galaxy missed a chance to take a quick lead when Chad Barrett got loose behind the Real Salt Lake defense in the third minute and ran down a through ball. But his open left-footed shot from inside the 18-yard box was high.

Two minutes later Salt Lake missed a great chance of its own after Javier Morales' corner kick was volleyed in front of the Galaxy net where Robbie Russell got a foot on it. But his hard shot from short range went right into midsection of a surprised Josh Saunders, allowing the Galaxy keeper to make the save.

And that just the start of what would be an active and entertaining first half in which the teams combined for 11 shots and 17 fouls, with the Galaxy leading by one in both categories.

The Galaxy finally broke on top in the 23rd minute after Real Salt Lake's Andy Williams chested Omar Gonzalez in the penalty area as the Galaxy defender tried to get his head on a cross in front of the goal. Williams was whistled for the foul and Donovan converted the penalty shot cleanly, driving a right-footed shot into the right corner for his second penalty-shot goal in as many games.

The lead lasted just two minutes, though, before defender Jamison Olave redirected Javier Morales' corner kick from the left side of the goal back in front, where Saborio drove a hard header by Saunders.

The Galaxy had a chance to get the lead back in the 33rd minute but Keane's open right-footer struck the post. Nine minutes later it was Keane again, taking a feed from Barrett, slipping Olave with a beautiful move, then firing a low, bending shot that just missed to the far side.

The last shot of the half came from Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman, whose right-footed blast from the top of the box struck the post with seconds left in stoppage time.

Both teams picked up right where they left off after the intermission and less than six minutes in, the Galaxy raced nearly the length of the field with David Beckham feeding Keane, whose cross gave Barrett a great chance in front of the goal. But the header from about five yards hit Will Johnson directly in the face, sending the midfielder to the turf as the ball caromed harmlessly over the goal.

Less than five minutes later it was Magee missing high with a header off another beautiful cross from Beckham. He didn't miss on his next chance, though, scoring on a diving header off another perfect Beckham pass in the 58th minute.

Keane finished the scoring in the 68th minute, taking a pass from Donovan and racing up the left wing, deking Olave again with another deft move, then sending a low shot into the far corner.

Salt Lake didn't quit, so it fell to Saunders to keep the lead at two goals with a diving right-handed save on Morales in the 84th minute. Seconds into stoppage time, RSL came up short again when Fabian Espindola missed just wide of the right post.

The win left the Galaxy unbeaten in 23 matches this season at the Home Depot Center, where the MLS Cup will be contested in two weeks. The Galaxy will be playing in the league championship for the second time in three seasons. In its last final, in 2009, Los Angeles lost to Real Salt Lake on penalty kicks.

-- Kevin Baxter

Photo: Galaxy midfielder Landon Donovan celebrates with teammate Todd Dunivant after scoring on a penalty kick against Real Salt Lake in the first half Sunday at Home Depot Center. Credit: Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times

BCS standings: Alabama is No. 3 after loss to No. 1 LSU

Louisiana State’s 9-6 victory over Alabama on Saturday solidified the Tigers’ position at No.1 in Sunday’s latest Bowl Championship Series standings.

But don’t count out Alabama yet.

The Crimson Tide dropped only one BCS spot, to third, staying ahead of undefeated Stanford and Boise State.

LSU leads the BCS with an average of .9931. Oklahoma State, which narrowly defeated Kansas State, moved to No. 2 with an average of .9447, followed by Alabama at .8836, Stanford at .8749 and Boise State at .8473.

Rounding out the BCS top 10 is Oklahoma, Oregon, Arkansas, Clemson and Virginia Tech.

Several key games down the stretch will soon impact the standings. Stanford hosts Oregon this week while Texas Christian, back in the USA Today and Harris polls this week at 7-2, plays at Boise State in what might be the Broncos’ last serious test.

Oklahoma State still has to play Oklahoma on Dec. 3 and Arkansas visits LSU on Nov. 25.

The top two teams in the final BCS standings on Dec. 4 will play for the BCS national title on Jan. 9 in New Orleans.

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Gerharts go the extra miles to watch sons play football

Missouri's move to the Southeastern Conference is complete

--Chris Dufresne

Photo: Alabama running back Trent Richardson is brought down by LSU defensive tackle Bennie Logan in the third quarter of their game on Saturday. Credit: John David Mercer / US Presswire

UCLA basketball: Bruins pull away for ragged 80-72 victory

There was a roll call, a recognizable voice over the loudspeakers and even the fan with blue hair heckling opponents when they shot free throws.

There was a comforting familiarity for UCLA at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario on Sunday afternoon when the No. 17 Bruins started their season-long road show.

UCLA turned in an uneven but ultimately triumphant performance, pulling out an 80-72 victory over Cal State San Bernardino before 6,259.

Sophomore Joshua Smith helped the Bruins rally from a 60-58 deficit with 7 minutes 33 seconds left by continually taking feeds and bulling his way around the interior during a 9-0 run. Smith finished with a game-high 26 points and seven rebounds, making 14 of 18 free-throw attempts.

Junior forward Reeves Nelson had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Bruins, who were missing Jerime Anderson as the backup point guard started serving his two-game suspension in connection with the theft of a laptop computer on campus this summer.

Senior guard Lazeric Jones and sophomore forward Travis Wear added 10 points apiece for UCLA, which outrebounded the Division II Coyotes, 40-30, and committed three fewer turnovers.

Senior forward Theron Laudermill scored 16 points for Cal State San Bernardino, which shot 44.4% to UCLA's 39.6% but had two key players, forward Kwame Alexander and Tre' Brewer, foul out in the final 5:11.

We'll have more later at www.latimes.com/sports.

-- Ben Bolch

With Friends in Both Places, Milbury Will Analyze Bruins-Islanders

In a rare visit to the press box, Mike Milbury is set to broadcast a game between the two N.H.L. franchises he worked for. Milbury will serve as the color commentator for the Versus telecast Monday night when the Boston Bruins host the Islanders.

“I’m usually in the studio, or sometimes between the benches,” said Milbury, who works for NBC, Versus and CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada. “But they do assign me one- or two-game analyst spots a season in the broadcast booth. I guess I was an obvious choice for Bruins-Islanders.”

For Milbury, a Massachusetts native, the game is close to home in every sense. He was a defenseman for the Bruins from 1975 until 1987. He spent the first four years of his career in coaching and management with the organization. He was the head coach of the Bruins’ minor league affiliate, the Maine Mariners, for two years before becoming the head coach and assistant general manager of his hometown team. In his first year as an N.H.L. head coach, he took the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to the Edmonton Oilers.

Milbury worked in hockey operations for the Islanders from 1995 until 2006. He had three brief stints as the team’s head coach, but his long tenure as general manager was marked by ownership follies and instability, shoestring budgets and many of his own controversial moves. Under his watch, and not until Charles Wang purchased the franchise in 2000 and invested competitive dollars in the roster, Milbury’s teams qualified for the playoffs three times. After he stepped down as general manager in 2006, he served as a club vice president, over-seeing administration and marketing at Wang’s suggestion.

His return to the booth comes as the teams he is closely connected with are off to poor starts to the season. The Bruins won the Stanley Cup last season but appear to be suffering from a championship hangover. The Islanders, who have not come close to contending for a playoff berth the last four seasons, are tied with Boston for last place in the 15-team Eastern Conference. Both teams, however, are coming off good wins Saturday: the Bruins beat Toronto, 7-0, and the Islanders defeated Washington, 5-3.

Since Milbury still has friends and associates with the teams – most notably Wang and the Bruins president Cam Neely (who played for Milbury) – it will be interesting to see if the usually unguarded analyst will be tamer in the booth Monday. He said he would not pull any punches.

“After I left the Islanders and got back into broadcasting, Bob McKenzie gave me good advice when we worked together at TSN,” said Milbury, who lives in the Boston suburbs after a decade on Long Island. “Bob told me, ‘Once the red light goes on, there are no teams.’ That’s been my approach, and that’s how I’ll see the game Monday in Boston.”

Dave Strader will call the play-by-play, while Pierre McGuire will provide additional analysis in a booth between the Bruins’ and Islanders’ benches.

Surfing legend Kelly Slater (officially) wins 11th world title

This time, it's official. 

Surfing legend Kelly Slater won his 11th world championship Sunday after Round 4 at the Rip Curl Pro Search in San Francisco. Slater was thought to have won it last week, but the Assn. of Surfing Professionals admitted it made a calculation error and crowned him prematurely.

"It was a confirmed the other day, but we’re sure now,” Slater said in a release Sunday. "I’m stoked. I was upset about it, but I also thought it was really funny. There are no hard feelings towards ASP and mistakes happen. It’s easy to point things out."

In 1992, at age 20, Slater became the youngest surfer to win a world championship. In 2011, the 39-year old Cocoa Beach, Fla., native became the oldest. 

-- Baxter Holmes

Kyle Busch, forced to miss NASCAR races, apologizes for retaliation

After being forced to sit out two NASCAR races this weekend, including Sunday's Sprint Cup Series race in Texas, Kyle Busch issued an open letter of apology that said "I have no one to blame but myself."

Busch initially defended his actions after he intentionally wrecked Ron Hornaday Jr. after the two earlier banged fenders in a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday night.

But after NASCAR penalized him by taking the rare step of prohibiting Busch from driving in Sunday's Cup race and in the second-level Nationwide Series race on Saturday, Busch apologized to his Joe Gibbs Racing team, his fans, his sponsors and to Hornaday.

"I understand why I was taken out of the car for the rest of the weekend," Busch stated in his letter. "NASCAR officials had to act, and I accept their punishment and take full responsibility for my actions."

Denny Hamlin, Busch's Gibbs teammate, drove for Busch in the Nationwide race and finished second to winner Trevor Bayne. Michael McDowell is driving for Busch on Sunday.

Busch, 26, is a lightning rod among NASCAR fans, an aggressive, excellent and daring driver who also can be volatile and temperamental. He routinely draws a loud mix of boos and cheers in pre-race introductions, and his nicknames include "Rowdy" and "Wild Thing."

Busch, who was seventh in the Cup standings entering Sunday's race, seemed to mature somewhat this season and be less prone to risky, unwarranted maneuvers on the track. But "this was certainly a step backward," Busch acknowledged.

He added: "I know my long-term actions will have more of a bearing than anything I say right now."

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--Jim Peltz

Photo: NASCAR driver Kyle Busch on Oct. 21 at Talladega Superspeedway. Credit: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images

Jets at Bills: Matchup to Watch

Jets (4-3) at Bills (5-2), 1 p.m. Eastern, CBS

Matchup to Watch: Shonn Greene vs. Buffalo defense

The Bills have allowed 120 rushing yards a game this season. Under Rex Ryan, the Jets have averaged 279 yards on the ground in four meetings with Buffalo, which augurs well for a rejuvenated Greene. Behind a steady offensive line, Greene erupted for a season-high 112 yards on Oct. 23 against San Diego. He must contend with the superb rookie defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, a pass-rushing force who also clogs the middle.

Number to Watch: 14

That is how many passes the Bills have picked off, the most in the N.F.L. this season. Making smart decisions will be even more important for Mark Sanchez, who has thrown one interception over his last three games. He will be facing an opportunistic defense that forced two of the league’s top quarterbacks, Michael Vick and Tom Brady, into throwing four interceptions each.

Quotation of the Week

“Every time you look at him, he’s probably better than you even remember.”

Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick on cornerback Darrelle Revis, against whom quarterbacks have a 2.9 rating, according to ProFootballFocus.com.

Giants at Patriots: Matchup to Watch

Giants (5-2) at Patriots (5-2), 4:15 p.m. Eastern, Fox

Matchup to Watch: BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Kevin Faulk vs. the Giants’ defensive line

Justin Tuck responded to a recent question about the Giants’ run defense by saying, “I don’t want to talk about it,” and his hesitation was understandable. The Giants are allowing 130.1 rushing yards a game this season, the fifth-worst average in the N.F.L. While Tom Brady and Wes Welker get most of the attention, Green-Ellis and Faulk may be New England’s biggest threats.

Number to Watch: 323.1

The number of passing yards the Patriots’ defense has allowed per game this season, creating an unusual set of circumstances for this rematch of Super Bowl XLII. The Giants, traditionally a run-heavy team, will almost surely lean toward passing against New England’s struggling secondary. The Patriots, known for their passing game, will probably lean toward attacking the Giants’ weakness in stopping the run.

Quotation of the Week

“I don’t know. Long term for me is Sunday afternoon against the Giants.”

Patriots Coach Bill Belichick, 59, when asked if he could envision coaching until he is 70

David Stern says NBA players have until Wednesday to accept deal

Setting the stage for four days of intense contemplation, NBA Commissioner David Stern late Saturday told players they had until the end of Wednesday to accept a deal that would provide them between 49% and 51% of basketball-related income as part of a new collective bargaining agreement.

Stern spoke at the end of an 8½-hour negotiating session presided over by federal mediator George Cohen, who made six compromise suggestions to players and owners. Stern said the owners were willing to adopt five of the proposals but that the players’ union flatly rejected them.

Lakers guard Derek Fisher, president of the players’ union, said players offered to take around 51% of BRI, down from their previous 52.5% demands. He said “there’s no way in the world” players would receive 51% of the BRI under the owners’ flexible proposal.

“We’ve made the effort,” Fisher said. “It just doesn’t seem to be good enough for this particular group of owners.”

Player reaction to Stern’s take-it-or-leave-it offer was swift on Twitter.

“U gotta love an ultimatum,” tweeted San Antonio Spurs guard Steve Novak. “How does basketball ever even get to this point?”

-- Ben Bolch

Photo: NBA Commissioner David Stern addresses the media following a failed labor negotiation last month in New York. Credit: Bebeto Matthews / Associated Press