UCLA bucks trend
PASADENA, Calif.(AP) Kevin Craft threw two touchdown passes to Ryan Moya, Kahlil Bell ran for a pair of 1-yard scores and UCLA defeated Washington State 28-3 Saturday night, ending a three-game losing streak with its first victory over the Cougars in the Rose Bowl since 1998.
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The Bruins (2-3, 1-1 Pac-10) won at home for the first time since their season-opening upset of Tennessee in Rick Neuheisel's coaching debut at his alma mater.
Craft was 23-of-36 for 225 yards and did not throw an interception before leaving with 5 minutes remaining. Moya caught six passes - one off his career high - for 57 yards, while Terrence Austin had seven catches for 77 yards.
The Bruins took a 14-0 lead in the second quarter. Craft hit Moya for a 15-yard TD on UCLA's first possession. The Cougars were then forced to punt before Craft handed off to Bell, who plunged 1 yard for his third touchdown of the season.
Bell injured his left ankle in the season opener and missed losses to BYU and Arizona before scoring twice in last week's loss to Fresno State. The Cougars beat UCLA 27-7 last season in Pullman, Wash., where Bell sustained a season-ending knee injury.
Washington State (1-5, 0-3) narrowly avoided its first shutout since 1984 with Nico Grasu's 47-yard field goal in the third quarter.
The Cougars managed just 11 first downs and 177 yards of total offense, and had eight penalties for 69 yards. They were 2-of-14 on third-down conversions.
Alterraun Verner's interception of Marshall Lobbestael at the WSU 27 set up Craft's third TD at 6:40 of the third. Craft found Moya alone in the right corner of the end zone for a 12-yard score, extending UCLA's lead to 21-3.
Bell scored again early in the fourth with his second 1-yard plunge that made it 27-3. He had 21 carries for 43 yards.
Lobbestael was 15-of-31 for 151 yards and one interception in the redshirt freshman's second start. Dwight Tardy was the Cougars' leading rusher with 17 carries for 50 yards, while Brandon Gibson was their top receiver with six catches for 62 yards.