Barer than average bear

On a raucous night at Pauley, mascot Joe Bruin got into the spirit by dropping his shorts

It was a comeback that left nothing to the imagination, including the furry backside of the UCLA mascot. The bear bared all Thursday night at Pauley Pavilion.

Joe Bruin became an unexpected participant in UCLA’s rally when Oregon’s Jordan Bell shot the second of two free throws with 19.1 seconds left and the Ducks trailing by three points. As he stood next to the basket stanchion, the mascot turned his back toward Bell, bent over and pulled his shorts down while gyrating and spanking his rear end, which remained covered by bear suit.

Bell made the free throw despite the unusual distraction, but UCLA ultimately prevailed, 82-79, after trailing by as many as 19 points in the first half and 15 points early in the second half.

Pac-12 officials spoke Friday with UCLA athletics administrators, who agreed the mascot’s gesture was inappropriate and vowed not to let it happen again.

The Bruins were more appreciative of a boisterous sellout crowd that stood and roared for most of the final 10 minutes.

“Our crowd was tremendous,” UCLA Coach Steve Alford said after the game. “In my four years, Pauley hasn’t sounded like that. That’s been the best environment that one of my teams has had a chance to play in and we’re very appreciative of it.”

Said Bruins guard Aaron Holiday: “It was crazy. It was rocking. Once we got going, it got really loud.”

Trying to fluster freethrow shooters is an art form almost as old as peach baskets. Fans wave their arms, bang noisemakers and yell in an attempt to force misses. Arizona State students pull back their Curtain of Distraction behind the basket from which an Elvis impersonator or costumed unicorns might appear in the moments before an opponent releases a shot.

Another fad has become wearing almost nothing. One USC fan behind the basket at the Galen Center was clad in only a Speedo last month during the Trojans’ victory over UCLA.

Joe Bruin took it a step further, adopting a less-is-more approach against the Ducks.