Another slow start offensively cost the Beavers against the Bruins Thursday night. They shot an awful 32 percent in the first half. Add eight turnovers and UCLA led 27-24 at intermission.
Then UCLA comes out of the locker room and goes off on a 13-2 run to build up a 39-26 lead. Give the Beavs credit....they had some fight and came back to take a 44-43 lead with 6:30 remaining. Chris Smith was the key player for the Bruins at crunch time. He scored nine of his 15 points in the final minutes and UCLA wins it 62-58.
Afterwards, in the basement press room at Gill, Coach Wayne Tinkle lamented about his defense: " We've gotta find a way to defend when we need to defend no matter what defense we're in."
The Beavers drop to 2-5 in Pac-12 play and 12-7 overall. Oregon State hosts USC Saturday afternoon in Corvallis. Pregame coverage with Mike Parker begins at 1:30 pm on 1190 KEX with the tip just after 2:pm
Here is the official Oregon State release on the game:
Oregon State rallied back from a 13-point second-half deficit but fell short in a 62-58 loss to UCLA on Thursday night at Gill Coliseum.
The Bruins (10-9, 3-3 Pac-12) made their last nine free throws in the last two minutes to stay in front. Chris Smith scored nine of his 15 points down the stretch.
Zach Reichle made two free throws with 11.6 seconds left that brought Oregon State (12-7, 2-5 Pac-12) to within one point at 56-55.
Jalen Hill then made two free throws for UCLA, his first points of the game.
Tyger Campbell fouled Oregon State's Ethan Thompsonwith 6.6 seconds left, preventing him from getting off a 3-pointer.
Thompson made both free throws cutting the lead to one.
Hill went back to the line at the 5.4-second mark and came through again with two free throws.
Thompson made one of two free throws with 3.1 seconds remaining, and UCLA's Jules Bernard converted two free throws for UCLA to seal the win.
UCLA opened the second half on a 13-2 run and took its biggest lead at 39-26 on Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s fast-break layup with 15:05 remaining.
Oregon State's Tres Tinkle scored inside and Alfred Hollins hit a 3-pointer, cutting the lead to 42-36.
Thompson's three-point play brought the Beavers within two points at 43-41.
Oregon State took its first lead since early in the game at 44-43 with 7:21 remaining on Tinkle's three-point play, culminating an 18-4 run.
Tinkle scored 12 of his game-high 17 points in the second half. Thompson added 14 points and Reichle finished with 12.