Cougars Claw Past Bruins in a Close Encounter at Pauley Pavilion
In a tightly contested match at the Pauley Pavilion, the Washington State Cougars edged out the UCLA Bruins with an 85-82 scoreline. The Cougars' season record now stands at an unranked position, while the second-ranked Bruins hold their ground despite this setback.
The home crowd of 7,241 witnessed a game that was as close as they come, with lead changes occurring seven times and the score tied once. The UCLA Bruins showcased their resilience throughout the game, fighting back from a first-quarter deficit where they scored 17 points to the Cougars' 19. Despite trailing in scoring during both of the first two quarters and entering halftime behind, they managed to rack up an impressive 23 points in the third quarter and finished strong with 29 points in the final quarter.
The Bruins demonstrated commendable accuracy from the charity stripe, converting free throws at an impressive rate of ninety-three percent. They also dominated inside by outscoring their opponents thirty-four to thirty-two on points in paint and securing ten second-chance points thanks to their offensive rebounding efforts which led them to grab ten offensive rebounds overall.
UCLA's playmaking abilities were on full display as well; they tallied eighteen assists over four quarters of play. This was complemented by five steals which contributed to sixteen points off turnovers. However, it wasn't enough as both teams ended up committing fourteen turnovers each.
On defense though, UCLA struggled somewhat; managing only one block compared to Washington State's five and conceding nineteen personal fouls against twenty-three for themselves. This discrepancy might have played a role in tipping scales slightly towards Washington State's favor.
Washington State’s performance was marked by efficiency from beyond-the-arc where they shot fifty percent from three-point range making six shots out of twelve attempts. Their field goal percentage stood at fifty-four percent while sinking twenty-six field goals out of forty-eight attempts overall.
As for individual performances that stood out - although specific players are not mentioned - it can be inferred that there were significant contributions across both rosters given such close numbers across various statistical categories including total rebounds where UCLA had thirty-four against Washington State's twenty-five.
Looking ahead for fans of The UCLA Bruins: The team will travel northward for their next challenge against California Golden Bears at Haas Pavilion located in Berkeley on February 2nd scheduled for a tip-off time at 7:00 PM Pacific Time Zone (PT). Fans can catch all action live on Pac-12 Network ensuring not a moment is missed from what promises another exciting conference game.