June 14, 2009

ORLANDO, Fla. - UCLA alumni Trevor Ariza and Jordan Farmar helped the Los Angeles Lakers win their 15th NBA Championship, clinching the best of seven series 4-1 tonight with a decisive 99-86 victory over the Orlando Magic in Orlando, Fla.

It marked the first NBA World Championship title for both Ariza (fifth year as a pro) and Farmar (third year as a pro), who played for the Bruins and head coach Ben Howland.

Ariza, who scored 15 points and added five rebounds, two steals and an assist in tonight's win, earned All-Pac-10 Freshman Team honors in his lone season at UCLA (2003-04). He averaged 11.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg and a team-high 1.7 spg as a true freshman on coach Howland's first UCLA squad.

Farmar, who scored two points and added an assist off the bench in tonight's victory, played two seasons for UCLA and coach Howland (2004-05 and 2005-06). As a sophomore, he was named a CollegeInsider.com All-American and a CollegeHoops.net Honorable Mention All-American, as well as being named a first-team All-Pac-10 performer. He was also named to the Pac-10, NCAA Oakland Regional and NCAA Final Four All-Tournament teams. In 37 games (all starts), he averaged 13.5 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 5.1 apg and 1.1 spg in 2005-06.