In the opening round of the Pac-12 tournament in Las Vegas, UCLA managed to defeat twelfth-seeded Oregon State 67-57. Sophomore guard Dylan Andrews displayed his best performance for UCLA, scoring a career-high 31 points, including seven three-point shots.
The Bruins started the game off striking and took control, finishing the first half with a strong 12-2 run. They maintained this lead throughout the second half, though Oregon State tried to make a comeback, narrowing the gap to just four points at one stage in the game.
However, Andrews used his shooting accuracy to keep UCLA ahead by answering any attempts the Beavers made to close the deficit. He hit crucial three-pointers, supported by assists from sophomore forward Adem Bona. The duo of Bona and Andrews dominated the first half scoring, contributing 25 of 34 points for UCLA.
Related Stories
Student Athlete of the Week: Christian Dixon
Fourth-Seeded Oregon knocks off Fifth Seed UCLA in intense quarterfinal Pac-12 matchup
Bona, in addition to his offensive contributions of 17 points, also made significant defensive plays, grabbing six rebounds, two steals, and a block. Andrews not only showcased his scoring ability but also assisted his teammates with opportunities to score, being involved in 41 points.
Sophomore guard Jordan Pope led the way for Oregon State with 16 points, supported by Senior guard Dexter Akanno with 14 points, and Sophomore forward Tyler Bilodeau contributing 13.
Although they were the top scorers for the Beavers, it still was not enough to overcome the determined performance of the Bruins. UCLA shot 55 percent as a team. Meanwhile, Oregon State struggled from long-range, making only one out of eight attempts. This victory marked a notable achievement for UCLA, to secure their spot in the next round of the Pac-12 tournament.
The key to the success of the Bruins was stopping the top scorers of Oregon State.
“It was good to have the offense come,” Andrews said. “But our main focus was stopping Jordan Pope and [Tyler] Bilodeau” (La Times ).
Head Coach Mick Cronin heavily emphasized how important his defense stepped up in their win against the Beavers in his post-game press conference.
“Our defense was excellent and that was the key to us winning the game tonight,” Cronin said.
