That's how long the UCLA quarterback needed to throw the go-ahead touchdown in the third quarter, helping the Bruins defeat Oregon State 25-7 tonight and keep their bowl hopes alive.

"We needed that. This game gave us a big boost," said Marcus Everett, who scored both of UCLA's touchdowns.

Oregon State turned the ball over on downs on its first drive of the quarter, and before the Beavers knew what had hit them, Cowan directed the 45-yard scoring pass to Everett on UCLA's first play.

"We haven't done anything like that all season," UCLA coach Karl Dorrell said. "We wanted to come out in the second half with a big play. The defense did a great job on that fourth-down stop."

The Bruins (5-5, 3-4 Pac-10), who snapped a four-game losing streak despite racking up 13 penalties for 155 yards, could salvage a bowl bid with a victory at Arizona State next week. They end the regular season at home against No. 7 Southern California.

"Our defense really stepped up to the challenge of slowing down an offense that has been very, very successful the last few weeks," Dorrell said.

The Beavers (6-4, 4-3), who play a 13-game schedule, would have become bowl eligible with their fifth consecutive victory. Their winning streak included a 33-31 upset of USC on Oct. 28.

"That was a terribly disappointing game," Oregon State coach Mike Riley said. "Nothing felt good about it."

Oregon State plays at Hawai'i Dec. 2 in Aloha Stadium. UCLA is in the running for a berth in the Dec. 24 Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl against Hawai'i.

Oregon State's Matt Moore, who transferred from UCLA after losing the starting job in 2003, was sacked five times -- including twice in the fourth quarter. He was 16-of-28 for 159 yards and no touchdowns.

The defensive duo of Justin Hickman and Bruce Davis teamed up against Moore, with Hickman getting a sack and Davis recovering a fumble with 5 1/2 minutes left in the game.

"They beat us, but we also beat ourselves," Moore said.

Justin Medlock, who came into the game tied for the NCAA lead with 19 field goals, made kicks of 40 and 42 yards in the second quarter, when UCLA trailed 7-6. He added two more in the fourth — from 25 and 24 yards — that extended the Bruins' lead to 25-7.

UCLA stopped Oregon State's first drive of the third quarter when Yvenson Bernard was tackled for a 3-yard loss on fourth down.

"We had a half-yard to go (for fourth down)," Riley said. "I didn't think it would be catastrophic if we went for it. It turned out it was."

The Bruins had barely regained the ball when Cowan found Everett, who ran into the end zone ahead of Oregon State defender Al Afalava for a 13-7 lead.

"Coach said, 'Don't be hesitant to make a big play, just try to get positive yards,' " Cowan said. "The coach called it and I executed it. It was cool."

Oregon State's Alexis Serna, the fourth-best kicker in the nation, missed a 30-yard field goal wide left. On their next possession, the Beavers committed the third of their four fumbles in the game.

The Bruins maintained their momentum into the fourth quarter, with Everett catching an 11-yard TD pass from Cowan for a 19-7 lead. The 2-point conversion failed when Cowan's pass was incomplete to Logan Paulsen.

"I told Patrick, `Just throw the ball out there and I'll run under it,' " Everett said. "He just calmed down in the second half. I told him it's fun and he threw some perfect balls."

Bernard scored up the middle for the Beavers' lone touchdown in the second quarter. He was their leading rusher with 16 carries for 54 yards and leading receiver with five catches for 41 yards.

Cowan was 12-of-23 for 126 yards and two touchdowns.