UCLA can take a big step toward clinching at least a share of the Pac-12 title when it travels to Washington State on Wednesday. The Bruins begin the week tied atop the conference standings with No. 25 Oregon, which plays at Colorado on Thursday. UCLA put itself in good position for a piece of the championship by knocking off Arizona State and No. 18 Arizona on its home floor last week.UCLA leading scorer Shabazz Muhammad was named Monday as one of eight finalists for national Freshman of the Year honors. The last player from the Pac-12 to win that title was Jason Gardner of Arizona in 2000. Muhammad, who is expected to enter the NBA Draft following this season, is averaging 18.3 points and 5.3 rebounds. He has reached double figures in scoring in all but one game. Brock Motum averages a team-high 17.9 points and 6.2 rebounds for Washington State.TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, Pac-12 NetworkABOUT UCLA (22-7, 12-4 Pac-12): Travis Wear sat out the last 5 1/2 minutes of Saturday's victory against Arizona because of an injured right foot that had sidelined him the previous two games. The 6-10 junior center is third on the team in scoring (11.3) and second in rebounding (5.3). If he's limited against the Cougars, the Bruins have a solid replacement in his twin brother, David, who played well against the Wildcats, finishing with 10 points and nine rebounds. ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE (11-18, 2-14): Motum might be the most well-known player for the Cougars, but sophomore guard Royce Woolridge is steadily making a name for himself. The transfer from Kansas and son of former NBA player Orlando Woolridge is averaging 15.8 points over the last nine games. He averaged 7.6 points the first 20. The Cougars have been without senior point guard Mike Ladd the last five games because of a knee injury. He remains day-to-day.TIP-INS1. UCLA freshman F Kyle Anderson was named Pac-12 Player of the Week after averaging 19 points and 11 rebounds in the victories last week against Arizona State and Arizona.2. UCLA senior PG Larry Drew II combined for 22 assists in the two games last week to move up one spot to No. 4 on the list of Division I assist leaders (7.8).3. Washington State has lost nine straight games, its longest losing streak since dropping 14 in a row during the 2002-03 season.PREDICTION: UCLA 85, Washington State 71