UCLA Basketball: Bruins storm back to drop the Ducks

UCLA basketball got revenge on Oregon as they completed a 19-point comeback and used aggressive defense to pull out a win at Pauley Pavilion.

The UCLA Bruins topped the Oregon Ducks, 82-79, on Thursday evening in a blockbuster Pac 12 game at Pauley Pavilion.

Early on, it was all about Dillon Brooks. The Oregon Ducks star opened up the game by scoring 19 points in the first 25 minutes. He was guarded at first by T.J. Leaf, who struggled to stay in front of him when Brooks was given room to work on the perimeter. Oregon went up by as many as 19 when Brooks found an open Chris Boucher for three with 6:42 remaining in the half.

They would head into the break leading 48-39.

Slowly, things began to change in the second half, though. UCLA made a remarkable defensive stand with around 11 minutes left in the game, holding Oregon to just 12 points during that stretch. Brooks, now being guarded by Lonzo Ball, went 0-of-5 as UCLA willed themselves back into the ballgame.

Thomas Welsh’s jumper with 7:30 remaining made the score 69-66 in favor of Oregon. After Boucher went 1-of-2 at the line, Leaf came up with a steal and passed it up to a streaking Aaron Holiday, who layed it in and was fouled. After converting the And-1, UCLA was down by just a point. 60 seconds later, Holiday knocked down an open three to take the lead. The Pavilion was going wild.

The Bruins would stay ahead by a thin margin, relying on Ike Anigbogu for rebounding and defense, and Ball for instant offense in the final minute. He hit a layup and buried a clutch 3-pointer to keep Oregon from retaking the lead. Ball finished with 15 points on 6-of-11 from the floor, including three triples. Welsh and Bryce Alford each chipped in 12. Oregon was led by Brooks and Tyler Dorsey, who both had 19 in the loss.

UCLA’s response to finding themselves down by a large deficit late in the game speaks volumes about the leadership of head coach Steve Alford and the chemistry he has fostered amongst the players this season.

This Bruins squad is proving that they belong in the conversation of great UCLA basketball teams by earning signature wins against top-ranked opponents in dramatic fashion. On the road against Kentucky and Utah, and at home against Cal and Oregon, UCLA has repeatedly had to adjust their approach in order to come out on top. Their individual players always step up when called upon, and their ability to play smart and play together is what makes them a National Championship contender. This isn’t just a team with talent; this is a team with heart.

Next: Three takeaways from UCLA's win over Oregon

The Bruins now sit in third place in the Pac-12; one game behind Oregon and two games behind Arizona. Most of their remaining games are favorable matchups, and they will have a chance to shake up the conference standings a bit when they take on Arizona on the road on February 25th.

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