UCLA
13-7, 4-4
Oregon
13-7, 3-4
UCLA Comeback Falls Short at Oregon, 94-91
January 20, 2018 | Men's Basketball
EUGENE, Ore. – Kris Wilkes scored 21 points and Thomas Welsh tallied a double-double as the UCLA men's basketball team dropped a thrilling 94-91 contest at Oregon on Saturday night from Matthew Knight Arena. The Bruins have lost three in a row in conference play and are now 4-4 in Pac-12 play and 13-7 overall.
UCLA finished with five players in double-figures led by Wilkes, who tied his career-best with 21 points on 7 of 12 shooting. Welsh recorded his 12th double-double of the season and his fourth during conference play with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Aaron Holiday tallied 14 points with 13 coming in the second half. Jaylen Hands made three 3-pointers and totaled 12 points, while Prince Ali added 10 points.
Oregon (13-7, 3-4) was led by Payton Pritchard with 25 points on five 3-pointers. Mikyle McIntosh and Victor Bailey Jr. each finished with 18 points, while Troy Brown tallied 17.
UCLA trailed by as many as 18 points early in the second half but was able to gradually cut into the deficit throughout the period as the Bruins shot 58 percent from the field in the period. The Bruins made it a one-point game after going on a 10-0 run over a one minute and 37 second stretch late in the game. Alex Olesinski hit a 3-pointer to start the run, followed by back-to-back baskets by Wilkes and a tough Holiday layup made the score 88-87 with 1:09 to play.
Oregon was able to hold on for the victory after shooting 6 of 6 from the free-throw line in the final minute of the game with Pritchard making the final four free throws to seal the victory.
Wilkes totaled 16 of his 21 points in the second half including shooting 6 of 8 from the field with three 3-pointers.
The Ducks jumped out to a 52-38 lead at halftime after shooting 56 percent (20-36) from the field. Oregon did not turn the ball over in the first half, while forcing nine UCLA turnovers and converted them into 12 points. Bailey and McIntosh combined for 27 points in the first period on 10 of 12 shooting.
The Bruins finished the game shooting 52 percent (27-52) from the floor, including 46 percent (11-24) from 3-point range, while the Ducks shot 48 percent (32-67) from the field and just 34 percent (11-32) from behind the arc.
UCLA returns to Pauley Pavilion next week as it begins a three-game homestand starting on Thursday against California at 7:30 p.m. PT. The game will be televised on FS1.
