UCLA went on the road and held off a good Ohio State team in a top-15 matchup Monday night.
The Bruins’ 77-71 win showed why they are the No. 2 team in the country, led by a strong defensive showing and a stellar performance from standout transfer Lauren Betts.
No. 13 Ohio State (9-2) didn’t have an answer for UCLA’s defense in the second and third quarters and couldn’t get into its pressure consistently to get the Bruins out of rhythm until it was too late.
The Bruins (10-0) will host Hawaii on Dec. 21, their last game before Pac-12 play, and Ohio State will host Belmont on Dec. 22, its last game before Big Ten play.
We knew UCLA could score, but it won on the back of its defense
UCLA came into Monday’s contest averaging 92 points per game, but it was the defense that won this game for the Bruins.
Ohio State’s shooting percentage (38.5 percent from the floor) was poor, but beyond that, it never got consistent open looks against UCLA. Betts was a difference maker in the middle of the Bruins defense, tallying five blocks and changing the direction of multiple other shots the Buckeyes wanted to put up.
The offseason addition of the former Stanford center Betts doesn’t just help with rim protection, it allows UCLA’s guards to play with more perimeter pressure in its…
