Bruins reign in Oklahoma
By Randy Satterburg
Daily Bruin Staff
SEATTLE, Wash. — The top-seeded and top-ranked UCLA men’s
basketball team advanced to the NCAA title game for the first time
in 15 years Saturday when the Bruins defeated fourth-seeded
Oklahoma State, 74-61.
After a 37-37 deadlock at halftime, UCLA took charge of the game
late in the second half. Oklahoma head coach Eddie Sutton’s Cowboys
trailed 64-61 with less than two minutes remaining, but failed to
capitalize on a chance to tie the game when Randy Rutherford’s
three-point attempt sailed long. The Bruins then scored the final
10 points of the game with a perfect 10 of 10 mark from the free
throw line down the stretch to seal the victory.
Tyus Edney led UCLA scorers with 21 points and five assists,
while Charles and Ed O’Bannon combined to add 34 points.
UCLA ran its record to 30-2 overall with the semifinal win,
marking just the fifth time in school history that the Bruins have
won at least 30 games in a season, and the first time since John
Wooden’s national championship team went 30-0 in 1972-73.
The victory against Oklahoma State also marked the Bruins’ 18th
consecutive win.
Now, UCLA awaits a dream matchup Monday night for the national
title against defending champion Arkansas, which boasts an
impressive winning streak of its own with its 11 consecutive
tournament victories.
The Bruins will be in search of a record 11th basketball
championship, and their first since 1975, while the Razorbacks will
be making their bid for their second title in as many years.