UCLA
6-6,1-0Pac-12
Oregon State
8-4,0-1Pac-12
Bruins Open Pac-12 Play With Win at Oregon State, 69-62
December 28, 2023 | Men's Basketball
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The UCLA men's basketball team opened Pac-12 Conference play with a 69-62 win over Oregon State on Thursday night at Gill Coliseum.
The Bruins (6-6, 1-0 Pac-12) outscored Oregon State by a 30-12 margin over the first 11 minutes of the second half. UCLA's strong second-half showing helped the Bruins to snap a four-game losing streak, having trailed the Beavers (8-4, 0-1 Pac-12) by a 28-24 margin at halftime.
UCLA shot nearly 42 percent from the field and sank 9 of 19 attempts from 3-point range, securing its first win since a one-point victory over UC Riverside on Thursday, Nov. 30. The Bruins finished the game with just nine turnovers, their third game this season with 10 or fewer turnovers.
UCLA's 30-12 run in the early portion of the second half helped the Bruins to take control of the contest. During that scoring run, UCLA shot 11 for 20 from the field and made 5 of 8 attempts from beyond the 3-point arc.
Five Bruins finished in double figures on Thursday night, led by Adem Bona (13 points) and Dylan Andrews (13 points). Bona finished with eight rebounds, three blocks and three steals.
Brandon Williams had 11 points, connecting on 5 of 6 shots, while Will McClendon and Lazar Stefanovic each finished with 10 points in the win.
"We got to continue to play smarter, which I thought we had a lot of growth in that," said Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. "Obviously, this was good for their confidence to get this win, but it's onward and upward. Guys have got to continue to grow, and as a coaching staff, I identify areas where we can improve. But the kids did a good job against that – that matchup zone is hard to play against."
Oregon State extended its cushion to nine points, at 25-16, late in the first half. McClendon sank a corner 3-pointer to cut OSU's lead to six points – at 25-19 – with 4:13 to go. After Oregon State had regained a nine-point advantage, Brandon Williams made baskets on back-to-back possessions. The freshman from New York made a mid-range jumper before he sank a step-back 3-pointer to make it a 28-24 game, in Oregon State's advantage, at the half.
Sebastian Mack made his first 3-pointer of the night at the start of the second half, helping UCLA to cut its deficit to just one point, 28-27. Several possessions later, Andrews hit a 3-pointer and then Bona tied the game for the Bruins, at 32-32, with a strong finish at the rim with 16:24 left in the game.
UCLA took its first lead since the 18:30 mark of the first half when McClendon put the Bruins ahead, 37-35, with his second 3-pointer of the night. McClendon sank another triple on the Bruins' next offensive possession, putting the Bruins on top by a 40-38 margin at the 14:54 mark in the second half. McClendon finished the game 2-for-4 from beyond the 3-point arc on Thursday night.
The offense continued to make shots midway through the second half. Berke Buyuktuncel finished at the rim and made a corner 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions, putting the Bruins up 45-40 with 11:25 remaining. UCLA began the second half shooting 8-for-15 from the field and 4-for-7 from 3-point distance.
UCLA stretched its advantage to 10 points, at 50-40, when Andrews nailed the Bruins' fifth 3-pointer of the half before McClendon finished at the rim to give UCLA a game-high 14-point lead, 54-40, with 9:02 remaining.
Oregon State stemmed the tide and closed the gap to seven, 54-47, with 7:21 remaining before the two squads traded baskets for the next five minutes. Stefanovic then nailed a triple from the top of the arc to give UCLA a 65-55 lead with 2:22 to go.
The Bruins' defense came up big in the final minute, led by Bona. After UCLA failed to cash in on the offensive end, the sophomore sprinted down the court and came up with a huge block, his third of the game, to keep the Bruins in front by eight, 65-58. UCLA managed the game from there and ran out with a 69-62 win on the opening night of Pac-12 play.
UCLA will continue Pac-12 play at Oregon on Saturday, Dec. 30. The Bruins' contest at Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Ore., will be nationally televised on CBS. Game time is 1 p.m. (PT). CBS broadcasters Rich Waltz and Clark Kellogg will have the call courtside in Eugene, Ore.
The Bruins registered a 69-62 win at Oregon State in the Pac-12 opener for both programs on Thursday.
— UCLA Men's Basketball (@UCLAMBB) December 29, 2023
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