Corvallis, OR – It was a grind-out slug-fest from start to finish in Gill Coliseum as Oregon State battled UCLA. It took all 40 minutes to decide this contest. Neither team shot the ball particularly well which kept the game tight for the duration, with 14 lead changes and 13 ties. Every possession became more and more pivotal. Both teams competed relatively well, however it came down to the Beavers showing growth, maturity, experience and resilience. UCLA did a good job with getting 18 points off their bench, as opposed to OSU’s 8 points, however it was not enough to quiet the Beaver Nation fans, especially in the last five minutes of the game. Gill Coliseum became louder and louder late into the second half which helped the Beavers pull out a tough one. The game came down to the final minute with OSU executing on an athletic dunk + 1 by 6-10 junior forward Drew Eubanks. Then 6-8 junior forward Tres Tinkle sealed the deal with two free throws to push the lead to 67-63 with 14-seconds remaining. The Beavers closed out the game with a 69-63 victory.
For Oregon State five players scored in double figures to seal the win led by Tinkle’s 16 points, six rebounds and three assists. Tinkle displayed good footwork on offense, and good competitiveness throughout the entire game. Eubanks provided a shot blocking presence and toughness inside to go along with his 12 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two blocks. 6-8 senior forward Seth Berger produced solid all-around play with 10 points and four rebounds. 6-4 junior guard Stephen Thompson Jr. contributed leadership and overall good guard play with 12 points, four rebounds and three assists. Thompson Jr. also did a great job creating passing lanes as he penetrated in the paint. 6-5 freshman guard Ethan Thompson’s 11-points, six rebounds and two assists rounded up this solid team victory in this Pac-12 Conference battle.
For UCLA 6-1 junior PG Aaron Holiday displayed a plethora of talents to compliment his competitive toughness. Holiday scored 22-points (3-5 3PT, 11-12 FT) to go along with three rebounds and three assists. He is a quick, explosive ball handler who can score from anywhere on the floor, and is talented taking the ball to the basket drawing contact, while maintaining good balance and body control. He has good stamina and endurance. He’s natural leader with great athleticism for his size.
Interesting Stats for the Game
- OSU led 25:50 of game
- Rebounds: OSU 45 – UCLA 37
- 3-Point Shooting: OSU 41.2% (7-17) – UCLA 30.4% (7-23)
The OSU Beavers (11-7, 3-3) host the USC Trojans (14-6, 5-2) this Saturday at 5pm.
This article was written by Lorenzo Leaks, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Facebook, or on twitter. We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout certification program. For information contact us and forward your resume.
