LOS ANGELES — The UCLA Bruins leaned on balance, poise and defense Saturday afternoon, edging the Oregon Ducks 74–63 at Pauley Pavilion. With five players scoring in double figures and a resilient second-half closeout, UCLA snapped any doubt and claimed the win.
The Bruins took control early — at one point leading by 18 — and entered halftime ahead 44–31. Their hot three-point shooting in the first half helped build the cushion, fueled in part by timely contributions from guard Skyy Clark.
But the Ducks wouldn’t go quietly. Oregon surged back in the second half, cutting the lead to as few as three points with under eight minutes left, thanks to a spirited rally led by guard Jackson Shelstad and forward Takai Simpkins. At that juncture, the game hung in the balance — memories of UCLA blowing big leads earlier in the week loomed.
What followed was a decisive closing stretch. The Bruins responded with a critical 13-5 run over the final eight minutes: clutch buckets from forward Tyler Bilodeau, strong defense, and smart execution on offense — including some patient ball movement and converted free throws. The Ducks, meanwhile, cooled off at the worst possible time, failing to gain any ground in the final minutes.
Leading the charge for UCLA was junior forward Eric Dailey Jr., who erupted for 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting and added eight rebounds. Joining him in the scoring column were Bilodeau with 14 points, Clark and Donovan Dent each with 13, and Xavier Booker with 12 — five starters all in double digits for a balanced attack.
For Oregon, Shelstad led the Ducks offensively with 20 points and knocked down four three-pointers; Simpkins contributed 14. Unfortunately for Oregon, their shooting consistency waned in the crucial closing moments, and they missed key defensive rebounds and stops. Even though they outscored UCLA on second-chance points, the Ducks couldn’t fully capitalize.
With the victory, UCLA improved to 7–2 on the season and 2–0 in Big Ten play. The win also gives the Bruins momentum and confidence as they look ahead to a top-matchup next week. As for Oregon, they slip to 4–5 overall and remain winless in conference games.
This game served as a reminder for UCLA about what balance, composure and defense can produce — especially when a lead starts to shrink. Their offense may have cooled in the second half, but the Bruins showed they can still close games.