UCLA splits in the Beaver state; Falls at Oregon, 86-72

Aaron Holiday drives to the hoop past Oregon's Chris Boucher (Jack Kang/AP photo)

Associated Press

JAN 23, 2016 | MEN'S BASKETBALL
By: UCLA Athletics
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EUGENE, Ore. - Aaron Holiday scored a season-high 19 points as the UCLA basketball team dropped an 86-72 decision before 10,525 at Matthew Knight Arena on Saturday.

Holiday and UCLA’s other four starters each scored in double figures. Thomas Welsh finished with 16 points and a team-leading eight rebounds, while Tony Parker had 11 points and Isaac Hamilton and Bryce Alford each totaled 10.

Oregon’s Dillon Brooks registered a team-leading 25 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Ducks (16-4, 5-2), who improved to 13-0 this season at home.

Oregon claimed a 41-31 lead against UCLA (12-8, 3-4) by halftime, out-rebounding the visiting Bruins by a 26-20 margin before the intermission. The Ducks won the battle on the boards, 42-32, marking just the fourth time in 20 games this season that UCLA was out-rebounded.

UCLA reduced Oregon's lead to as few as five points, after having trailed by 12, midway through the second half. A three-pointer from Hamilton cut the Ducks’ margin to 63-58, before Oregon used consecutive baskets from Elgin Cook to push its lead to nine (67-58) one minute later.

From that point, the Bruins were never able to reduce Oregon’s cushion to fewer than seven. A three-pointer from Brooks with 6:03 to play gave the Ducks a 70-60 advantage and Jordan Bell’s layup less than 30 seconds later put Oregon ahead, 72-60.

UCLA will return to action at home versus Washington on Thursday, Jan. 28. Game time is 7 p.m. The Bruins’ game on Thursday will be nationally televised on Fox Sports 1.

Game Notes: UCLA opened the second half making 9 of its first 13 shots (69.2 percent) and finished the game having shot 43.5 percent (27-for-62) ... the Bruins made 7 of 14 shots from 3-point range (50.0 percent) ... Oregon finished with 18 offensive rebounds against the Bruins ... UCLA's three starting guards (Aaron Holiday,Bryce Alford and Isaac Hamilton) combined for 15 assists and just four turnovers.