BRUINS LEARN TO MASTER CLOSE CALLS.

Byline: Jon Wilner Daily News Staff Writer

Bob Toledo backed against the wall outside UCLA's locker room in the bowels of Oregon State's Gill Coliseum. A few feet away, friends and family celebrated Saturday's wild 41-34 victory in which the Bruins scored 24 points in the final 16 minutes.

Someone asked Toledo about being unbeaten and highly ranked - about the pressure that accompanies an 11-round single-elimination tournament. One loss and the Bruins are out of the national title hunt.

``You've got to be psychologically ready every game,'' Toledo said. ``You can't slip up. I'll tell you, it's hard on 18-year-old kids. It wears on you. It wears on a 52-year-old man.''

The Bruins have made thrilling seem routine in recent weeks, rallying from second-half deficits four times in five games (Arizona, Oregon, Stanford, Oregon State) in part because of opponent mistakes: Oregon tailback Reuben Droughns' fumble, Stanford receiver Jeff Allen's fumble, and the poor kickoff by Oregon State's Jose Cortez with 31 seconds left.

It's not all luck, though. Receivers Danny Farmer and Brad Melsby, cornerback Marques Anderson, kicker Chris Sailer and quarterback Cade McNown have made game-winning plays.

After each victory, the Bruins talk in vague terms about making big plays and ``knowing how to win close games.'' What does it mean? How does ``knowing'' translate into throwing a 61-yard last-second touchdown pass or causing a fumble at the 1-yard line?

It's like driving in freeway traffic or taking final exams.

``When a team gets ahead of us, I put everything together in my mind,'' defensive end Pete Holland said. ``I think, `The offense is going to score, then we're going to stop them and score again. I visualize what we need to do, and with that comes the tendency not to panic. If you can see it, you don't panic. And you can only see it if you've done it before.''

The Bruins aren't unique. Late-game heroics were on the resumes of the last two Pac-10 champs. In 1996, Arizona State was 3-0 in games decided by 10 points or less (or overtime) before losing to Ohio State in the Rose Bowl. Last year, Washington State was 5-0 in close games until meeting Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

``You'd think it would wear you out, but it didn't wear us out and it doesn't seem to be wearing UCLA out,'' Cougars coach Mike Price said. ``You have a feeling that no matter what, you're going to find a way to win.

``When you think like that and the ball pops on the ground in a key situation, it doesn't surprise you. You're expecting it. You're expecting to step in and capitalize on it.

``If you didn't believe in yourself, then when the ball pops loose, you aren't ready to pick it up.''

Winning close games is an acquired trait. At least it has been for UCLA. In Toledo's first season, 1996, the Bruins bungled fourth-quarter leads against No. 4 Arizona State (two fumbles) and Stanford (defensive breakdowns).

Two years later, UCLA has become what ASU was - good, lucky, undefeated and possessing an incomparable senior quarterback. Just as Jake Plummer led ASU to 21 points in the fourth quarter, just as he caught a tailback option pass and sliced through UCLA's defense for the go-ahead touchdown, so, too, does McNown beat opponents with his arms and his legs and any means necessary.

McNown's apprenticeship was swift. Six weeks after ASU, he orchestrated the victory that changed it all - the double-overtime miracle against USC. McNown completed 16 of 25 passes for 259 yards in the second half and directed the Bruins, who were trailing 38-21 midway through the fourth quarter, to 17 points in the final six minutes of regulation.

Like chicken pox, the experience of that cool November afternoon has stayed in UCLA's system and seemingly granted immunity to fourth-quarter collapse.

``We've drawn off that game for so much,'' Toledo said. ``Since that point, the kids have believed in the system and the coaching. A real trust has built up between us.''

Like Plummer, McNown is in his fourth season as a starter. He has failed miserably and faced every situation imaginable. He has complete command of the system and the huddle. And he has total confidence in his decision making with the game on the line.

``I love being in that situation,'' he said. ``I'd like to score 28 points or more, but I don't mind being in that situation. We don't get all tight and that makes us play better.''

Can they keep it up? Who knows? There's no evidence saying they can't, but with each escape the odds of future survival would seem to diminish. Eventually, they'll face an opponent that doesn't make crucial mistakes or give them a chance for heroics.

``There's no magic formula for what we've done,'' guard Andy Meyers said. ``But if you work hard and have confidence and don't panic, it pays off in the end. When Oregon State tied that game (with 31 seconds left), I looked at the person next to me on the sidelines and said, `I'll be back in a few seconds. We're about to score a touchdown.' ''

It's as simple as that, and far more complicated.

``Is this good for the heart? No,'' Holland said. ``But the only way it can be bad is if it puts a doubt in our mind that maybe we aren't as good as we think we are. But I don't think that's happened to us.''

Not yet.

UCLA at WASHINGTON

Saturday 12:30 p.m.

Ch. 7 / 1150 AM

CUTTING IT CLOSE

The Bruins have rallied from second-half deficits in four of their last five games. Here's a closer look at the circumstances.

Opponent UCLA deficit Comeback

Arizona 28-24 late third Bruins score final 28 points

Cade McNown hits Danny Famer for 64-yard touchdown pass.

Oregon 31-24 early fourth Bruins outscore Ducks 17-7

Oregon fumbles at UCLA's 39 with four minutes left in OT.

Stanford 24-14 early fourth Bruins score final 14 points

Stanford fumbles at UCLA's 1 with four minutes left.

Oregon St. 24-17 late third Bruins score 24 in 16 minutes

McNown throws 61-yard TD pass to a wide-open Brad Melsby.

- Jon Wilner

CAPTION(S):

Photo, Box

PHOTO A fourth-quarter celebration - this one involving Joe Hunter, left, and James Ghezzi - has been a weekly occurrence for UCLA.

David Crane/Daily News

BOX: CUTTING IT CLOSE (see text)