Monday, February 9, 1998
Eager Bruins post win against Beavers
RECAP UCLA has no problem getting pumped up to avenge loss to
Oregon, end road trip on with victory vs. OSU
By Emmanuelle Ejercito
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
CORVALLIS, Ore. — Learning a lesson from Thursday’s Oregon
loss, the No. 6 UCLA men’s basketball team came out eager to beat
the Beavers and left Gill Coliseum with a 84-75 victory over Oregon
State.
"Before the game, we were all fired up, it was a totally
different pregame ritual. Guys were really into it," senior J.R.
Henderson said.
"Coach kept reminding us how we were real dead before the Oregon
game. I think that the players realized that too – we didn’t have
enough energy and we played that way. But I think (Saturday) we
wanted to change that and we got really excited about playing," he
added
The win over the Beavers before an audience of 10,400 salvaged
the Bruins’ (18-4 overall, 8-3 Pac-10) Oregon road trip. UCLA lost
to the University of Oregon, 97-81, 48 hours prior.
No current member of the Bruin team has ever lost back-to-back
conference games, and the seniors weren’t about to let a new trend
start.
"I think that it’s pretty impressive that we’ve never gotten
swept," senior Kris Johnson said. "We just rely on our pride – do
not let them sweep. It’s bad enough that we lost the first one to
Oregon. We took this game a lot more seriously."
The three seniors – Toby Bailey, Henderson and Johnson – all
scored at least 20 points. Bailey led the Bruins with 21 points to
add to his eight rebounds, while Henderson and Johnson had 20
points apiece.
But it wasn’t just the seniors having a solid game. Playing the
most minutes (27) that he has seen in the last five games, junior
Jelani McCoy recorded his third double-double of the season with 14
points and 12 rebounds.
McCoy, who is not normally known for his free throw shooting,
made all six of his free throws in the first half.
In fact it was the Bruins’ free throw shooting that helped them
take a 46-32 advantage at half-time. UCLA connected on 20 of 23
charity shots while only shooting 34.4 percent from the field.
But what also gave UCLA a lift was the fact that Oregon State
star Corey Benjamin was in early foul trouble and saw only 11
minutes of action in the first half.
"Corey has the ability to make plays," OSU head coach Eddie
Payne said. "We don’t have a lot of playmakers and so when he’s out
it hurts."
Benjamin, who finished with a game-high 34 points, received his
third foul with 6:36 left in the half and had to watch the rest of
the first half from the bench. The Bruins used the opportunity to
extend its seven point lead to 14.
Baron Davis did not start the second half because he reinjured
his left toe on a play at 13:03 in the first half. However, after
the trainer iced his toe down, Davis reentered the game with 15:01
remaining.
Davis’ toe will be evaluated this week.
"I felt a crunch, it’s still hurting," Davis said. "It’s real
painful, but I guess I’ve just got to play through."
OSU would threaten to cut the lead to single digits many times
in the second half, but the Bruins would hold the Beavers (12-11,
2-9) down. Oregon State made five free throws in the last 30
seconds to lose by a respectable nine points.
"(The win) was important for us because, after Oregon, we talked
about concentrating late in the game and executing late in the
game," McCoy said. "I thought that we did a good job of that
tonight."
DERRICK KUDO
Senior Kris Johnson scored 20 points against Oregon State in a
84-75 Bruin win.