Early in the game, the Bruins started out strong, but $c fought back and forged a 6-point lead until Josh Shipp seemed to restore order with consecutive 3-pointers to tie the game at 17-17. However, at 6:10 left in the half, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute went to the floor in agony, with UCLA down by four points. From there, $c bumped up their lead to eight points. The Bruins would keep it close; especially key was Darren Collison's jumper at the buzzer, with UCLA down 28-34.
The Bruins came out in the second half with offensive and defensive intensity from Russell Westbrook and Collison, keying a 15-2 run. Just as he did against Cal, Kevin Love stepped up, scoring 11 points during this run within a span of two minutes and 20 seconds, erasing the deficit and putting the Bruins up 43-36 at the 16:08 mark. The Bruins maintained the lead until the three minute mark, but clutch freethrows preserved the victory, as Mayo missed a potentially game-tying 3-pointer as time ran out.
Another gut-check win, despite the [assumed temporary] loss of the glue of our defense.
No big celebration - it Just$c, and it's just the Pac-10 Tournament. Let's hope Luc heals quickly.
Postgame interview with Kevin Love.
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Just$C Pac-10 Tournament Semi-Final Highlights
By
Telemachus
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