UCLA Basketball: Bruins' Best Player Reacts To Late-Game Loss Vs OSU

5-4 is not where they want to be.

Your UCLA Bruins dropped another close bout yesterday, losing a second-half lead to ultimately fall 67-60 against the Ohio State Buckeyes, while playing on neutral ground in Atlanta, during the CBS Sports Classic.

After the match, sophomore power forward Adem Bona reflected on just how good Ohio State looked against UCLA.

“We knew they shoot," Bona noted. "They have a bunch of guards that shoot. They have physical bigs. We tried to take away their shots and make them take the shots we want them to take.”

The Bruins stumbled out of the gate, but eventually settled down later into the bout's first half. They ultimately relied on their own defense to help them level the playing field, and won a hard-fought, low-scoring first half, outscoring OSU 23-22. Bona blamed his own offensive shortcomings postgame for the slow start.

"I just got to get better shots," Bona continued. "I got to get to my spots where I can make shots. Not rushing. Taking my time. I tend to fall into a trap when I rush. In the second half, the coaches talked to me. I took my time and took better shots.”

OSU (now 9-2) righted the ship in the second half, outscoring UCLA 45-37.

Bona finished with 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the floor and 2-of-5 shooting from the foul line, along with six rebounds, one block and an assist.

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