UCLA closes season with win over Fresno State

Field Level Media|published: Sat 30th November, 19:07 2024

Nov 30, 2024; Pasadena, California, USA; Fresno State Bulldogs running back Bryson Donelson (26) catches a pass as UCLA Bruins linebacker Joseph Vaughn (30) moves in during the second quarter during the second quarter at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Ethan Garbers passed for 289 yards and a touchdown to lead UCLA to a 20-13 win against visiting Fresno State in a nonconference game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Saturday afternoon.

Garbers completed 26-of-40 passes without an interception for the third straight game.

Moliki Matavao was Garbers' top target, catching eight passes for 120 yards for UCLA (5-7) in its season finale.

Mikey Keene completed 30-of-43 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown for Fresno State (6-6), which led 10-6 at the half.

The Bruins retook the lead on their first drive of the second half.

Garbers connected with Matavao on a 35-yard strike to the Fresno State 5 and T.J. Harden ran into the end zone on the next play to give UCLA a 13-10 lead.

UCLA drove inside the Fresno State 10 on its second possession of the second half, but Garbers threw incomplete on 4th-and-1.

A roughing-the-passer penalty on the Bulldogs on a third-down incompletion gave the Bruins a first down at the Fresno State 29, and the Bruins finished off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Garbers to J.Michael Sturdivant, stretching the lead to 20-10 with 1:38 left in the game.

Dylan Lynch booted his second field goal of the game for the Bulldogs, a 42-yarder with 31 seconds left, to trim the lead to 20-13, but the Bruins recovered the ensuing on-sides kick to secure the win.

Three false start penalties helped stall UCLA's opening drive near midfield.

The Bruins had 1st-and-goal at the 9-yard line on their second drive, but had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Mateen Bhaghani, giving UCLA a 3-0 lead with 4:36 left in the opening quarter.

UCLA outgained the Bulldogs 117-15 in the first quarter, but only held a 3-0 lead.

Jalen Moss fumbled a punt return early in the second quarter and UCLA recovered at the Bulldogs' 12-yard line, but the Bruins had to settle for another field goal, a 40-yarder by Bhaghani that extended the lead to 6-0 with 12:51 left in the half.

Fresno State then strung together a 14-play, 76-yard scoring drive, taking a 7-6 lead on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Keene to Raylen Sharpe with 7:29 remaining in the first half.

Lynch booted a 48-yard field goal as the first half expired to extend the lead to 10-6 at the break.

--Field Level Media

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