The Bruins looked like they were comfortably on the way to a romp over cold-shooting Presbyterian on Monday night before appearing to lose interest.
What had been a 24-point lead was down to three with less than eight minutes left. The Blue Hose overpowered and outsmarted the Bruins during two separate 11-0 runs, generating audible unrest inside Pauley Pavilion.
The 17th-ranked Bruins might have felt like it was in need of a confessional after finally prevailing with an 80-65 victory that exhibited several flaws ahead of some much tougher matchups.
“I thought we were really making growth in the first half and then we took about two steps back,” UCLA coach Steve Alford said.