LAS VEGAS — Jules Bernard grabbed the rebound with nine seconds to play in overtime, UCLA down by one in its Pac-12 quarterfinal against Oregon State. He ran the length of the court, one defender between him and the basket.
The junior guard could driven right at the defender and tried to finish through contact or draw a foul. There had already been 45 fouls called in the game to that point. Instead, Bernard tried to find a teammate on the wing for an open jumper.
The pass never found its intended target, and Oregon State guard Jarod Lucas grabbed the loose ball. Lucas was fouled and hit both free throws to make it a three-point game. Rather than allow the Bruins the chance to tie, the Beavers intentionally fouled in the backcourt. Johnny Juzang made the first free throw and intentionally missed the second.
But Oregon State secured the rebound, and with it the game, to eliminate the Bruins with a devastating 83-79 defeat.
Bernard, who led UCLA with 19 points, explained after the game that he was trying to avoid an offensive foul on his fateful turnover.
“He was trying to do the right thing. Things happen,” UCLA head coach Mick Cronin said. “And lately, every thing that can happen has happened to the Bruins this year.”
For the fourth game in a row, the Bruins (17-9, 13-6 in Pac-12) blew a double-digit deficit and walked off the court in anguish, Bernard gripping his head. Instead of advancing to the Pac-12 semis to play Oregon, UCLA headed home to see what fate the selection committee has in store for it.
Both teams had their opportunities to win at the end of regulation. Warith Alatishe hit a contested layup to give the Beavers (15-12, 10-10) their first lead of the second half with 11.2 to play. After a timeout, UCLA pushed the ball up the court. Tyger Campbell missed a jumper, but Bernard was fouled on the rebound.
Bernard’s first attempt bounced off the rim and out. The second also hit iron, but found its way into the cylinder to tie the game at 70. Oregon State’s last-second attempt went over the backboard to send the game to overtime.
Asked if the team got tight after its late-game failings to end the regular season, Bernard said, “That was behind us. We saw this tournament, this postseason, as basically a new season, a new start.”
The teams traded runs to start the game. After a 12-12 tie, UCLA appeared to take control with an 18-2 run. Bernard started the onslaught with a 3-pointer and Jake Kyman ended it with five points in 22 seconds.
But sloppy play let Oregon State back into it before halftime. UCLA committed four turnovers in the final 4:42 of the half and a 3-pointer by Lucas got the Beavers within 10 at halftime.
When Ethan Thompson drained a 3-pointer to open the second half, it was clear the Beavers meant business. A thunderous two-handed dunk by Alatishe, who led all scorers with 22, started a seven-point run by Oregon State to tie the game at 47 with 9:45 to play.
Overall, Oregon State shot 57.7% from the floor in the second half and made half of its 12 attempts from 3-point range.
“It’s my job to find five guys who can get some stops,” Cronin said. “You can point to free throws, you can point to the fact that we have good shooters who can’t make a shot. If we don’t shoot the 3 well, we’re just not tough and athletic enough to win with defense.”
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