Cal defeats UCLA.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)

BERKELEY, Calif. _ If you closed your eyes, it was like another night at old Harmon Gym.

Student crazies with their faces painted like blue and gold demons, Oski breakdancing at center court, fans blurting out noise that would make a jumbo jet jealous.

Against that backdrop on Thursday night at Haas Pavilion, Cal rode the wave of emotion to an incredible first 20 minutes of basketball, securing a 48-28 first half lead that led to the Bears' 92-63 victory over a UCLA team that withstood neither Cal's tremendous shooting (35-of-58 for the game, 13-of-22 from the 3-point line) or the crowd's unbelievable intensity.

It was perhaps the most complete game Cal (15-5, 6-2 Pac-10) has ever played under coach Ben Braun. It was also the second worst beating the Bears have administered to their Southern California rivals. The worst was a 49-16 decision in the 1922-23 season. "I'm pleased because we talk about effort and every team in the country writes 40 minutes on board," Cal coach Ben Braun said. "But we came close to playing for almost a 40. We just had a couple of lulls in there."

Lulls? Six Bears scored in double figures, led by guard Ryan Forehan-Kelly's 16 points. Five Cal players hit at least two 3-pointers. The team accumulated 29 assists, which tied the team record for a Pac-10 game, last recorded in 1973 against Washington State. The 13 3-pointers tied a school record last accomplished in 1991.

Bears point guard Shantay Legans, who navigated through UCLA's press with ease, picked up nine assists to just one turnover.

"Shantay had a turnover, I've got to get on him about that," Braun joked. "I was tough on Shantay this week in practice. We knew he had to have a big game. UCLA destroys teams with its pressure.