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PASADENA, California (Ticker) -- UCLA finally may have a defense, too. The 12th-ranked Bruins allowed Ohio State just 166 total yards and overcame four turnovers in a 13-6 win over the 21st-ranked Buckeyes. Ohio State (1-1) scored its only points off a blocked punt and came up short in its first real test under coach Jim Tressel, who took over for the fired John Cooper. Cory Paus threw a 24-yard TD pass to Ryan Smith and Chris Griffith kicked a pair of field goals for the Bruins (3-0), who opened their 20th season calling the Rose Bowl home. Defense has long been an Achilles' heel for UCLA, which gave up 30 points or more 15 times over the last three years. But the Bruins, under new defensive coordinator Phil Snow, allowed just 17 points each in wins at Alabama and Kansas, and were even better on Saturday. "I'm really happy for our defense. They've been so maligned," UCLA coach Bob Toledo said. "For them to pitch a shutout today is outstanding. We asked them to go hard for six seconds on each play. They made the plays when they had to." UCLA allowed its lowest point total since a 66-3 win over Texas in 1997. The Buckeyes scored their fewest points since a 28-0 loss to Michigan in 1993. "We just make plays. We had a lot of three-and-outs and the defense just stepped up," said linebacker Robert Thomas, who had nine tackles. "The offense has done it so many times and this time we paid them back." The strong defensive effort helped overcome seven fumbles and four turnovers. DeShaun Foster, who went over the 100-yard mark in the first two games, was limited to 66 yards on 29 carries and fumbled the ball away twice. A dismal effort by Ohio State quarterback Steve Bellisari more than made up for UCLA's miscues. Bellisari completed just 5-of-22 passes for 45 yards with two interceptions and did not complete a pass in the second or third quarters. But Ohio State still had a chance to win if not for a pair of missed field goals and an extra point. John Huston missed an extra point in the first quarter and a 32-yard field goal attempt in the third. The missed field goal followed a fumble by Foster at the UCLA 9. Mike Nugent of the Buckeyes missed a 28-yard attempt in the third. "A bunch of us made mistakes, coaches and players. We played well defensively and had many chances to win this games," said Tressel, who won his debut two weeks ago against Akron. "We were out of sorts in the first half and improved in the second but not enough." UCLA opened the scoring midway through the first quarter on the TD pass by Paus, who completed 16-of-25 passes for 262 yards. Foster fumbled twice on the drive but the Bruins recovered each time, keeping alive the 14-play, 80-yard march. "My hands were fine, the ball must have slipped," Foster said. "I'm supposed to keep two hands on the ball but I didn't always do it today." The only score for Ohio State came when Rocky Bryant recovered a blocked punt by Michael Doss in the end zone in the first quarter. Griffith kicked field goals of 49 yards in the second and 33 yards in the third. Ohio State failed to capitalize on two UCLA mistakes in the fourth quarter. Doss recovered a fumble by Foster at the Ohio State 41 and punt returner Ricky Manning later fumbled near the same spot. On both occasions, Ohio State turned over the ball on downs. The game at one of college football's most storied facilities attracted a crowd of 73,723. A moment of silence was observed before the game for the victims of the terrorist attacks.
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