Freshman Guard Watson Scores Points With Bruin Players by Causing Havoc

Bruin freshman guard Earl Watson was as impressive as someone who scored only six points could possibly be in UCLA’s 69-58 victory over No. 8 New Mexico on Saturday at the Pond.

The 6-foot Watson had a nine rebounds and five steals, both game highs, and added two assists and two blocked shots in 36 minutes.

“Earl can fill it up, too, but I think he’s at his best when he’s stealing the ball and all over the floor causing havoc,” senior Toby Bailey said.

Watson, who was one of his team’s top rebounders at Washington High in Kansas City, Kan., said he knows that with UCLA lacking height, he needs to hit the boards.

“I’m just thinking, ‘Find the ball,’ ” Watson said. “I want the ball in my hands, every time it’s loose or put up for a shot, I want it. I want every rebound.”

Watson also got into a brief flare-up with New Mexico big man Kenny Thomas after absorbing a charge in the second half.

But Watson took off as soon as Thomas tried to shove him, and Watson’s freshman teammate, Baron Davis, went up to Thomas to calm him down.

“I told him, ‘You’re an NBA player, don’t make yourself look bad,’ ” Davis said after the game. “ ‘There’s pro scouts here.’ He said, ‘All right,’ shook my hand and that was it.”

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J.R. Henderson, who has scored 20 points or more in each of the Bruins’ last three games played all 40 minutes of the game, something he did last season only once . . . . Bailey also played all 40 minutes, but he did that seven times last season.