Bruins Survive vs. Ohio Whew!

J.R. Henderson, saddled with two early fouls that kept him on the bench most of the first half, rallied No. 23 UCLA with six points in the final 5:43 as the Bruins defeated Ohio University, 72-61, Saturday at Pauley Pavilion.

Henderson and Charles O’Bannon finished with 16 points.

UCLA (2-2), playing only its fourth game in 17 days, led by 15 points early in the second half only to see the Bobcats (2-3) pull within three points three times over the final 7 1/2 minutes.

UCLA always managed to come up with a key basket by Henderson to keep Ohio down. With the Bruins ahead, 54-51, Henderson missed two free throws, but Jelani McCoy slammed home the rebound. Henderson then scored UCLA’s next six points to push the Bruins’ advantage to 62-55 with 3:13 remaining.

That took the wind out of Ohio. Shooting guard Geno Ford, who made big baskets in a 12-1 spurt that first drew the Bobcats within three, missed a couple of long jumpers to end Ohio’s upset hopes.

Ford and Corey Reed had four points each in that run to close Ohio to 54-51 with 7:29 remaining.

Ford finished with 21 points before fouling out with 11 seconds to play. Curtis Simmons added 18 points.