UCLA’s three-point shooting deficiencies prove costly in loss to Oregon

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UCLA forward Berke Buyuktuncel, right, looks to pass in front of Oregon guard Brennan Rigsby during the first half of the Bruins’ 64-59 loss Saturday. (Amanda Loman / Associated Press)

It came down to three-point shooting.

Once again, UCLA didn’t have any.

In one of the season’s most bothersome storylines for a young team trying to find its footing, the Bruins continued to watch with envy as the other team made long-range shots that UCLA could not counter.

The sequence that symbolized Oregon’s 64-59 victory Saturday afternoon at Matthew Knight Arena came with a little more than four minutes left.

Read more: UCLA defeats Oregon State in Pac-12 opener to snap four-game losing streak

Inbounding with six seconds left on the shot clock, the Ducks got the ball to Jackson Shelstad about 35 feet from the basket. Shelstad rose for an NBA-range three-pointer that fell through the net.

UCLA had no such luck, making just three of 19 shots from beyond the arc (15.8%) on a day the Ducks made 10 of 25 three-pointers (40%).

Even so, the Bruins had a chance after Dylan Andrews made a jumper with 32 seconds left to pull UCLA within 60-59. The Ducks beat the Bruins’ press, finding Kwame Evans Jr. underneath the basket for a dunk, putting UCLA in need of a three-pointer to tie the score.

Andrews rose from straightaway beyond the arc, his shot going off the side of the rim with 15 seconds left. The Ducks (10-3 overall, 2-0 Pac-12) grabbed the rebound and made enough free throws the rest of the way.

In his second consecutive strong showing, Bona finished with 15 points on six-for-seven shooting to go with 11 rebounds and five blocks. Shelstad led Oregon with 20 points, making four of seven three-pointers.

The Bruins (6-7, 1-1) found themselves teetering midway through the second half after Oregon rolled off a 14-2 run in which UCLA made just one of 11 shots — including a maddening possession when three offensive rebounds yielded no points — and fell behind, 51-44.

A brief spark was found when…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/uclas-three-point-shooting-deficiencies-233747672.html

Author : LA Times

Publish date : 2023-12-30 23:37:47

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