"Frustrating" was the adjective of choice for several of the Oregon players and for head coach Ernie Kent after the Ducks fell to UCLA 80-75 Thursday night at McArthur Court.
It looked as though lightning could strike twice - after upending the then #1 ranked Bruins last season at home, Oregon opened with seven straight points to get the Pit Crew revved up to the red-line before the visitors could get on the scoreboard. And for most of the first half they were able to hold the lead against the 8th ranked Bruins, but in the closing minutes of the first stanza UCLA built a six point cushion on three occasions before settling for a four point lead at the break.
Freshman sensation Kevin Love and Darren Collison did most of the damage for the Bruins, scoring 14 and 12 points respectively before recess.
Love - whose father Stan starred for the Ducks in the early seventies - was everything he was advertised to be, hitting the boards for 18 rebounds on the night and finding buckets inside, off the glass after teammate's misses and with the three-ball when the Ducks packed the paint. His 26 points led all scorers. It was an impressive performance in his return to the gym where he battled for three Oregon state high school championships while attending Lake Oswego High.
Malik Hairston's 18 points paced five Duck players in double figures, but leg cramps forced him to the locker room for nearly 11 minutes in the second half to receive intravenous fluids.
By that point, Oregon had erased UCLA's halftime lead and held a two point margin.
In his absence, Bryce Taylor and Maarty Leunen (16 points each) shouldered the load and extended the Duck's lead to seven points 58-51 after Taylor hit a three and Luenen followed up his steal with a lay-up.
The Bruin's Russell Westbrook joined Collison and Love in the second half scoring parade and his three-ball cut the lead to two points at the four minute mark, then his lay-up with 2:37 remaining put UCLA in front for good.
As time ran down, Oregon was forced to foul and the Bruins were clutch at the line, hitting eight of ten from the stripe in the game's last minute, polishing off a 13-4 run to close out the Ducks.
"This game was very reminiscent of Washington State," said head coach Ernie Kent. "We played very good basketball, our scheme was sound, and they struggled to guard our offense. But this team always seems to have six of seven plays where they breakdown. and it makes the difference in the game."
"This team is in a wilderness stage. They just have to figure out how to do some things. I'm frustrated by that, but they just have to keep grinding it out."
One bright spot for the Ducks was the return of Joevan Catron, who had been out since the non-conference portion of the schedule.
In all but two categories, statistically the game was a wash, Oregon shot 48.3% from the floor, the visitors a touch better at 49.1%, but the Bruins enjoyed a significant advantage on the boards (36 to 24) and at the free throw line (19/24 compared to 12/15).
"It's tough to put a finger on it (the reason for Oregon's now three game losing streak)," said Malik Hairston. "This losing is not acceptable. I understand the capability of this basketball team, and these loses have been tough. Our backs are up against the wall, and these next two games (USC on Saturday and OSU next Saturday) are a must win."
