Oregon @ UCLA preview
Pauley Pavilion
Last Meeting ( Dec 8, 2024 ) UCLA 73, Oregon 71
UCLA has emerged from an ugly stretch to put together an impressive winning streak.
After losing five of six games, the Bruins are looking to record their fifth consecutive victory when they host No. 16 Oregon on Thursday night in Big Ten play at Los Angeles.
The Bruins (15-6, 6-4) have beaten Iowa, then-No. 18 Wisconsin, Washington and Southern California during their winning streak.
They hope the tough times -- that span includes losses to Nebraska, Maryland and Rutgers -- are behind them.
"We got sick of losing, honestly," UCLA guard Eric Dailey Jr. told reporters. "We got sick of people talking about us, talking about the way we play and things, and the media and all that stuff.
"So once we got sick of that, we just came together as a team and just said, 'We gonna just hoop.' That's what we've been doing these last few games, and we just gotta keep this going."
The latest victory was Monday night's 82-76 win over host Southern California. Dailey scored 16 points and Sebastian Mack added 14.
But the biggest contribution came from 7-foot-3 Aday Mara, who had 12 points, collected a career-high 11 rebounds and matched his career best of five blocked shots.
"His confidence is going up, and he's already got the talent and the size," Dailey said of Mara, who is averaging 15.3 points over the past three games. "So when you get confidence that nobody can stop you, it's scary."
Production from Mara may again be necessary with the Bruins' scoring leader this season, Tyler Bilodeau (13.9 points per game), still nursing an ankle injury. Bilodeau was injured in the opening minutes of Friday's 65-60 road win over Washington and sat out vs. Southern California.
Dailey (12.0) and Sebastian Mack (10.4) also average in double digits in scoring for the Bruins.
UCLA beat Oregon 73-71 on Dec. 8 in Eugene when Dylan Andrews banked in a 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left in the game. Dailey scored 19 points to pace the Bruins. Nate Bittle had 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Ducks, who were 9-0 entering that contest.
Oregon (16-4, 5-4) has hit some bumps, with two losses in the past three games, including Saturday's 77-69 setback to host Minnesota.
The Ducks trailed 26-8 just seven-plus minutes into the contest.
Oregon got back into the game and even moved ahead during the second half before the Golden Gophers prevailed.
"I think our guys feel like, if we can stay after it, we can find a way to pull a game out," Ducks coach Dana Altman said afterward. "That's experience. We've pulled a few out, so our guys, they don't panic. They feel like we can get something done if we execute and get some stops."
Brandon Angel scored 18 points and TJ Bamba and Jackson Shelstad each had 15 for Oregon.
However, Bittle (team-leading 12.9 points per game) went scoreless and took just three shots in 24 minutes.
Shelstad (12.7) and Bamba (10.4) also average in double figures in scoring for Oregon, which was outrebounded 35-26 by the Golden Gophers.
"We got beat nine on the boards," Altman said. "I said going into the game we had to beat them on the boards. We got beat nine -- 11-0 on second-chance points. We had some bad turnovers and some questionable shots, but all in all we got ourselves back in the game, gave ourself a chance, but 11-0 second-chance points and minus-nine on the boards is just not going to win you many games."
UCLA's win last month was its fifth in the past seven meetings with the Ducks.
--Field Level Media