LAS VEGAS — Dylan Andrews put together another solid performance scoring 24 points but UCLA couldn’t finish the job as they came up short 68-66 against Oregon on Thursday night in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 tournament.
Coming off of a career night the night before Andrews made 10 of 21 shots to help UCLA (16-17, 10-11 Pac-12) stay in the game throughout.
“We fought, so. Proud of my guys, proud of every guy in here,” Andrews said. “I just hope everybody remembers this feeling.”
Guard Sebastian Mack scored 14 of his 16 points in the first half to help the Bruins hold a 34-29 lead at the half.
Both teams went back and forth in an exciting second half in the T-Mobile Arena.
Oregon took the first double-digit lead of the game, 63-53, with 4:13 left but UCLA answered with a 9-0 run to get within 63-62 after a driving layup by Andrews with 1:34 to play.
Oregon’s N’Faly Dante who finished the game with 22 points, scored with :37 seconds left and the Ducks made just enough free throws down the stretch to hold off the Bruins. Dan
“It’s horrible,” junior Lazar Stefanovic said after the game. “I mean, it’s hard to explain in words. People are not athletes. They really don’t understand how it is, how you feel after a loss.”
Aden Bona finished the game with eight points while dealing with foul trouble throughout the game.
“Tonight, we’re plus-seven with him on the floor,” Cronin said of Bona. “What if he’d have played 30 minutes? Plus-12, plus-15. Easy victory.”
UCLA came into this season with not much expectations and were an up-and-down team all season long.
The Bruins will now look to the offseason to improve a roster that needs some scoring, veteran presence and a possible replacement if Bona enters the draft this summer.
