Cougars turn up the heat in loss to UCLA

ON A COLD NIGHT in Pullman, determination was in the air. Despite being unable to pull out a win and at times making sloppy mistakes, the Cougars put in their most impressive effort of the season in a 44-36 to No. 18 UCLA. They very well could have won what boiled down to an 8-point game after a late rally by the Cougars.

Despite outscoring the Bruins 29-7 in the second half, the Cougars were unable to rally to get their first conference win of the Mike Leach era.

The Cougars (2-8 overall, 0-7 Pac-12) played most of the game with sophomore Connor Halliday at quarterback after senior Jeff Tuel was injured on their first touchdown drive.

Washington State dominated the first quarter before being outscored 30-0 in the second quarter by UCLA (8-2, 5-2), which is first in the Pac-12 South.

Play of the game: Andrew Furney's 39-yard field goal attempt was blocked and recovered by Roosevelt Davis for a 68-yard touchdown on the Cougars' opening drive.

Key moment: The Cougars had the ball deep in UCLA territory on the heels of a fumble on the Bruins' kickoff return when Halliday was intercepted by Andrew Abbott.

Key stat: Washington State actually outgained UCLA by more than 180 yards but couldn't get out of their own way.

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