UCLA downs Oregon State 71-63 in a see-saw battle
UCLA Bruins #3 Adem Bona (F/C) is gliding in the air to the basket for a two-handed power dunk while several Oregon State players are watching. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
WESTWOOD, CA – The UCLA Bruins (10-11) picked up their fourth win in their past five games with a 71-63 win against the Oregon State Beavers (11-10) at Pauley Pavilion.
The back-and-forth battle saw eight first-half lead changes before the Bruins pulled away in the closing minutes. UCLA was led by Adem Bona and Dylan Andrews who both scored 18 points each. Tyler Bilodeau paced the Beavers with 18 points as well. Lazar Stefanovic chipped in 15 points while playing all 40 minutes for the Bruins.
“I think it’s my first game this year I played 40,” said Stefanovic. “You can’t get tired. I have to be ready and stay ready.”
The Bruins struck first with Sebastian Mack finding a wide-open Bona on the first play of the game for the 2-0 lead.
The Bona slam fest would continue with the sophomore center catching a pass in stride down the lane for the two-hand flush giving UCLA a 15-14 lead with 9:35 remaining in the first half.
It was a slow-paced game in the first half with UCLA taking a 33-31 lead into halftime despite shooting worse from the field and three-point range than Oregon St. The Bruins made up for it by crashing the boards winning the rebounding battle 17-10 in the first half.
“Obviously they shot a good percentage,” said UCLA coach Mick Cronin. “But thankfully, we dominated the backboard. It takes effort to outrebound people.”
In the second half, Jordan Pope drilled a three-pointer to give the Beavers a 38-37 lead with 17:39 remaining. It would be their last lead of the game with Stefanovic answering with a three of his own on the next possession, 40-38. UCLA would lead the rest of the game and despite a few late runs by Oregon St, the Bruins showed poise in the closing minutes to hold on for the victory.
“In Power-5 leagues, the average margin of victory is around six points,” said Cronin. “So, you got to win grinders in conference play. We got some stops and some rebounds.”
After going 1-6 in December and a three-game losing streak to start 2024, the Bruins have now won four of their last five games and are one game from .500 as they look to turn around their season and make a run at an NCAA tournament bid.
Next up for the Bruins is their last Pac-12 matchup at Pauley Pavilion against the Oregon Ducks (15-6) who currently sit atop the conference tied with Arizona with seven wins. The Ducks are coming off a 78-69 win against USC as they look to sweep both L.A. schools on their road trip.