CORVALLIS, Ore.—With an 11:30 a.m. local tip, it appeared many Oregon State faithful failed to set an alarm.
Whether from yet-to-be-purchased Super Bowl hors d’oeuvres or a late Saturday night on the town, UCLA closed its Oregon road trip in front of a sleepy Gill Coliseum. Somewhere, a marketing intern should have advertised “good seats still available.”
The 2013-2014 Bruins surely have played in tougher environments this season. Something about Gill Coliseum doesn’t have the same ring as Madison Square Garden. All UCLA seemingly had to do was stop all-everything Oregon State guard and Pac-12 leading scorer Roberto Nelson.
To that end, UCLA engaged its target and latched on admirably. Nelson was stifled, stymied and stopped all afternoon, scoring just 12 points. He only got off eight shots, his lowest total since Dec.18.
But one player scoring doesn’t make a team. Neither does defending just one. In a 71-67 Oregon State victory, the problems arose not from the play of Nelson, but from down low.
Down under to be exact.
Story by: Andrew Erickson
