UCLA freshman Joshua Smith will be a game-time decision for Saturday's game against Stanford.

Smith suffered a possible concussion in Thursday night's win against Cal.

He fell and bumped his head on the floor early in the first half.

Reeves Nelson scored a career-high 24 points, tipping in the winning basket at the buzzer, to gave UCLA an 86-84 victory over Cal.

Lazeric Jones added 24 points as well, making seven of eight free throws in the final 1:11, as the Bruins won their third straight.

The Pac-10 has reprimanded UCLA center Joshua Smith for his critical comments about the officiating during last weekend's game against USC.

UCLA freshman Joshua Smith has apologized for critical comments about the officiating in UCLA's 63-52 loss to USC Sunday night and making an obscene gesture to a Trojan fan after the game.

“I have to apologize,” said Smith, who fouled out, referring to the officials. “With me, with that. It was just one of those heat of the moments where after the game you just say what’s on your mind. And a game like that where it was kind of funny I felt the calls were terrible but we watched film and a couple of them that I thought were terrible I actually did foul. And with that I just wanted to apologize for what I said. For basically with me I’m a pretty emotional guy and after a game like that I really didn’t understand the magnitude of the rivalry until after we lost and I really have to do better than that.”

Ben Howland said that four of five fouls called on Smith were correct.

"The refs, honestly, were terrible," said Smith. "They were giving me B.S. answers (when he asked about foul calls). They were telling me this, this, this.

"Hopefully, they can watch tape and correct themselves."

Smith also acknowledged giving the finger to a fan after the game.

“Yeah, that did happen,” Smith said. “I lost my cool, somebody actually said something personal to me, talking to me about my family. I just gave them a little one. I mean my parents taught me well but he said something personal where I just let him know how I felt. I do regret it. I’m a better person than that. My family has raised me to tune stuff out like that be he said something pretty personal. With me after the game with emotions all over the place it just kind of happened.”

Leading up to this weekend's game between UCLA and USC, Bruins sophomore forward Reeves Nelson downplayed the rivalry.

“I think it’s more of a media thing and maybe an old-timer thing,” Reeves said. “I just want to beat every team we play regardless.”

USC has defeated UCLA in four straight games.

"If they were trying to send a message, the message was sent,” Bruins guard Jerime Anderson said after the 63-52 loss.

Trojans coach Kevin O'Neill is now 3-0 against the Bruins.

“It’s not just another game,” O’Neill said. “When you’ve beaten UCLA, you’ve beaten tradition.”

USC has defeated UCLA in four straight games, the latest coming on Sunday night.

The Trojans kicked off their victory celebration with 40 seconds left in their 63-52 win at the Galen Center.

"When the other team starts to celebrate with 40 seconds left, that's just kind of a slap in the face," UCLA center Joshua Smith said. "Don't get me wrong. They won fair and square. Nothing against them. But with 40 seconds left, you just let the clock run out, shake our hands and go celebrate in the locker room."

The Pac-10 has suffered somewhat embarrassing losses to schools like Montana, Texas Southern, Utah Valley and Rider during non-conference play. They do not have a single team in the current national polls and San Diego State has become a West Coast power.

Because of these struggles, the Pac-10 has received criticism nationally for their struggles.

"It bothers the hell out of me, because it is totally unfounded," said UCLA head coach Ben Howland. "Bottom line is, there's nothing you can do about it, but go out and win."

Howland believes Washington has become underrated nationally.

"I watched them (Washington) on tape a lot," Howland said. "They lost to Texas A&M by one, they lost to Kentucky in a game they could have won, same thing with Michigan State. Why are they docking them more?

"I don't know if there's a bias against the West. There's not in football."

"I grew up following the Pac-10, played in the Pac-10, coached in the Pac-10, so it's tough to hear that," Washington's Lorenzo Romar said. "I think it also speaks to how strong this conference has been for a number of years. Whenever someone says what's wrong, that means there had to be a time there was a lot right."