Bruins making a habit out of the rally

LOS ANGELES – They’re turning into the come-from-behind Bruins.

UCLA coach Karl Dorrell wouldn’t mind seeing the Bruins in front all the way for a change.

The unbeaten and eighth-ranked Bruins rallied from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Washington State in overtime last weekend. The previous game, they were down 12 to California in the fourth, but pulled it out. Going back three games, they trailed Washington by 10 in the final quarter before coming back to win in the waning moments.

“It seems we like those double-digit point deficits late in the fourth quarter and finding ways to win,” Dorrell said Monday at his weekly meeting with reporters. “That’s something this team has done very, very well. The hard things they do well.

“Now if we can build consistency from start to finish, we have the potential to do some great things.”

UCLA (6-0, 3-0 Pac-10) outscored the opposition 50-3 in the fourth quarter over the past three games – and barely won each time.

The Bruins next face Oregon State (4-2, 2-1) on Saturday at the Rose Bowl. The Beavers are coming off an impressive win over Cal.

UCLA fullback Michael Pitre said the Bruins can’t keep falling behind and expect to pull games out.

“It’s very dangerous. The coaches addressed that with us. We know we need to start out faster and get our game going right from the start,” Pitre said.

“I don’t think it’s a matter of effort. We need to execute better. It can be as simple as one person missing an assignment. We need to concentrate on the details during practice.”

Tailback Maurice Drew said: “We just have to play better. That first half at Washington State was just uncalled for. I think we’re just not adjusting to circumstances fast enough.”