After a disappointing 2023-24 regular season that had Oregon State’s Men’s Basketball team finish 13-18, Wayne Tinkle and company hope to once again catch lightning in a bottle. The first hurdle is a UCLA team that on some days looks like they can beat anyone in the country and on other days look like they can get beat by anyone in the country.
Oregon State Sophomore Guard Jordan Pope, fresh off of a snub from the All-Pac 12 Team is hoping to make voters regret their decision. Meanwhile, UCLA is trying to stay hot enough to run the table and get themselves back into the NCAA Tournament.
Oregon State opens the game on a 7-2 run, all points thanks to Tyler Bilodeau. UCLA quickly comes back to make the score 7-6 and at the 15:20 mark in the first half, Bilodeau gets a second foul. UCLA’s Adem Bona makes the two free throws off the Bilodeau foul to take their first lead of the game.
UCLA builds a 7 point lead at the under 10:35 mark in the first half thanks in part to Dylan Andrews and Adem Bona with a combined 16 of UCLA’s 18 points.
Both teams traded baskets until the 3:43 mark in the first half when UCLA’s Will McClendon hit a 3 point shot to take control at 27-20. UCLA went on another 7-2 run with Andrews and Bona combined for 25 of UCLA’s 34 points at the half as UCLA extended its lead to 34-22.
Jordan Pope finished the first half 2 for 7 in FG’s including 0-3 from 3 point range. Nine Beaver turnovers in the first half led to 14 UCLA points. Overall in the first half, Oregon State shot 17% from 3 point range (1-8) while UCLA shot 57% (4-7).
The Beavers open the second half with a 5-0 run to close within 7 points thanks to a Jordan Pope three and a layup by Michael Rataj. UCLA quickly capitalizes on more Oregon State miscues to build the lead back up to 13 with 14:55 left in the game.
Oregon State goes on another 7-0 run this time to pull within 8 at 42-34 with 13:18 left. After Jordan Pope gets blocked by UCLA’s Devin WIlliams and UCLA’s Adem Bona picks up his third foul, Dylan Andrews knocks down a 3 point shot to keep the lead at 10 with 11:04 left in the game.
With 9:46 left, Jordan Pope hits a 3 to bring the Beavers within four points, however, Dylan Andrews for UCLA answers right back. Another 3 from Andrews at the 5:37 mark pushes the UCLA lead back to 10.
Oregon State just couldn’t close the gap and went scoreless for a nearly 3 minute stretch as UCLA took control of the game. Senior Dexter Akanno was taken out to a round of cheers from the Beaver fans with less than one minute left and UCLA ran out the clock.
After a slow start, Jordan Pope finished the game with 16 points. Dexter Akanno had 14 points in what appears to be his last game in a Beaver uniform and despite being in foul trouble most of the game, Tyler Bilodeau finished with 13 points.
Oregon State finishes the season 13-19. UCLA moves on to round two against Oregon, Thursday at 2:30pm.
