Oregon’s Dillon Brooks nails late 3-pointer to beat UCLA (Video)

Dillon Brooks knocked off no. 2 UCLA with a wild 3-pointer.

Oregon’s Dillon Brooks finished with 23 points in the Ducks’ 89-87 win over UCLA, but his final three were the most important.

With Oregon trailing 87-86, Brooks caught a dribble handoff with less than four seconds remaining at the top of the key. Dribbling to his right, Brooks pulled up above the outstretched arm of star freshman Lonzo Ball and drained a ridiculous game winner with 0.8 seconds to go.

Brooks missed the Ducks’ first three games of the season as he recovered from a foot injury, but he had an opportunity to announce his return in a big way on a national stage on Wednesday and he took full advantage.

Oregon’s opportunity was the result of a shocking miss from UCLA’s Bryce Alford. The senior entered the contest as an 87.0 percent free throw shooter, but missed the front end of an one-and-one with 10 seconds remaining giving Brooks a chance to win it for the Ducks.

For Oregon, this win represents a chance to get the ball rolling after a tough non-conference schedule. Despite coming within one game of the Final Four a year ago, the Ducks struggled to find a statement win ahead of entering Pac-12 play, losing to both Baylor and Georgetown in November.

Next: Virginia knocks off Louisville, 61-53

Dillon Brooks’ 3-pointer was just what the program needed to re-establish itself as a potential Final Four contender come March. Behind the upperclassman’s leadership, a stout defense and an under-the-radar freshman in Payton Pritchard, Oregon has what it takes to break through this season.