UCLA Survives Their Second-Half Collapse to Beat Oregon State 68-67

Credit to the UCLA Bruins for always finding a new and interesting way to make me completely baffled.

The Bruins played extremely well for much of this game, and carried an 11 point lead with under 8 minutes to play. They then proceeded to let the Oregon State Beavers get back into the game. That’s not a new story. If anything, I feel I’ve written that story way too many times at this point.

No, the new part is where UCLA didn’t immediately fold late and continued to fight. Chris Smith, who had a really solid game, drove in with aggression and made a tough shot while getting fouled to put the Bruins ahead by one. On the ensuing Beavers possession, the Bruins played extremely good defense,…