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LOS ANGELES – Matt Barnes scored 13 points, including the go-ahead basket with 1:03 remaining, as No. 12 UCLA defeated California 79-75 on Thursday night for its eighth straight win. 

The Bruins (20-6) held on to second place in the Pac-10 at 12-2 and set up a showdown for first place with No. 1 Stanford on Saturday. 

UCLA’s victory avenged a 29-point loss at Cal a month ago and snapped Cal’s four-game road winning streak. The Golden Bears (19-8, 10-5) had won 18 of their previous 22. 

Barnes’ basket snapped a tie at 74, then Cal was forced to foul Jason Kapono, who made both for a 78-74 lead with 24.8 seconds left. 

Shantay Legans made one of two free throws to draw Cal within three. Cal controlled the rebound, but Dennis Gates missed a 3-pointer and Barnes was fouled in grabbing the rebound. Barnes made one of two as UCLA used an 18-8 run to close out the game. 

Sean Lampley led the Golden Bears (19-8, 10-5) with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Legans added 16 points. 

The Bruins trailed by seven in the second half. They scored eight straight, including four by Earl Watson, to take their first lead, 69-67, since early in the half. 

It became a one-point game until Barnes’ basket off an assist by Watson put UCLA ahead for good. 

Watson led the Bruins with 20 points. Kapono and Billy Knight added 14 each. Knight had four of UCLA’s eight 3-pointers. Dan Gadzuric had 11 points and 11 rebounds, although UCLA was outrebounded 34-27. 

Cal opened the second half with a 13-4 run to take a 50-44 lead as UCLA missed its shots and Gadzuric committed two turnovers. 

UCLA coach Steve Lavin, on probation by the Pac-10 for the rest of the season because of a tirade against an official Saturday at Oregon State, was noticeably subdued. He clapped his hand over his mouth when the Bruins were called for traveling early in the game.