J.R. Henderson

J.R. Henderson scores career-high 32 points in the win.

Jan. 25, 1998

Box Score

LOS ANGELES (AP) - J.R. Henderson scored a career-high 32 points as No. 9 UCLA blew most of a 24-point lead in the second half and held on to beat Louisville 88-82 Sunday.

Toby Bailey and Kris Johnson combined to score all of UCLA's final seven points when the Cardinals got within five with 1:12 to play. Bailey finished with 19 points and Johnson had 13.

Nate Johnson scored 23 points - one off his career high - for the Cardinals (8-12), who had won two straight over the Bruins (15-3), including a 74-71 decision last year in Louisville.

But they have never had much success in Los Angeles, winning just once in eight games here for coach Denny Crum, a former player and assistant at UCLA.

Down by 24 points in the first five minutes of the second half, Louisville capitalized on a series of UCLA turnovers to get back into the game.

The Cardinals used a 22-5 run, including 10 by Eric Johnson, to close within seven points with 8:54 remaining, their first single-digit deficit since late in the first half.

Point guard Baron Davis fouled out at the end of Louisville's spurt, leaving fellow freshman Earl Watson to run UCLA's offense.

He quickly dished off to Kris Johnson, who scored inside, then Watson did the same. Freshman Travis Reed added a basket that launched seven straight points by the Bruins, who led 80-66 with 5:32 remaining.

Louisville found success from 3-point range over the final 3:42, hitting four shots from behind the arc, including two by Eric Johnson, who finished with 16 points before fouling out with 1:24 left.

That's when Bailey took over, scoring a basket and two free throws, and Kris Johnson made three of four free throws to send Louisville to its fifth loss in six games.

The Bruins broke open a one-point game by outscoring Louisville 34-15 over the final 12:15 of the first half. Henderson had 13 points working inside against the smaller Cardinals.

Nate Johnson scored half of Louisville's first 14 points as they had the Bruins down by four points twice in the first five minutes.