LA Sports Hub
Fansided

Bruins defeat Trojans, move on in Pac-12 tourney

By Evan Lovett

March 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) and guard Bryce Alford (20) react during a stoppage in play against the Washington Huskies during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
March 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) and guard Bryce Alford (20) react during a stoppage in play against the Washington Huskies during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The UCLA Bruins returned to their favorite getaway to defeat crosstown rival USC at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 conference tournament.

The contest tipped off at 8:43 pm local time, a relatively late start but apropos of March Madness and a prelude to the NCAA Tournament.

UCLA trounced the Trojans by 32 points in their last contest. A revenge match, of sorts, after USC upset the Bruins at the Galen Center in late January.

This time, there was no upset as the heavily-favored Bruins mostly controlled the tempo in a 76-74 victory. USC  missed their first eight shots and did not score until the 15:01 mark against the Bruins a tenacious zone.

The stifling defense held the Trojans to 3-19 shooting in the early going. With Thomas Welsh scoring two early buckets with feathery jump shots, the Bruins zoomed to a 14-3 lead.

Isaac Hamilton regained his early-season shooting touch, tallying 13 points in the game’s first dozen minutes. The Trojans battled back behind Elijah Stewart’s two three-pointers, but Lonzo Ball hit two ridiculous shots to give the Bruins breathing room heading into the half.

Hamilton finished the game as UCLA’s leading scorer with 22 as the well-rounded Bruins had four players in double figures.

Then, the second half saw the Trojans cut the deficit to two points after an Stewart three-pointer with four minutes left in the game. A spate of missed free throws by USC (15-23 for the game) ensured that would be the closest they would come to taking the lead. Jordan McLaughlin led the Trojans with 18 points.

The game marked TJ Leaf’s sudden return from a scary ankle injury that had Bruin fans holding their breath. He looked spry, athletic and mobile.

With five minutes remaining in the first half, Bryce Alford drained his 318th career three-point bucket for the Bruins. This helped him become UCLA’s all-time leading three-point scorer.

Additionally, Alford finished the game 2-10 from the field with six rebounds. He was the only Bruin starter not to score in double digits.

UCLA advances to face Arizona Friday night 8:30 pm.

Finally, the winner of that game will contend for the conference championship on Saturday. They will play against the winner of California vs. Oregon — a game that will precede the Bruins’ next contest.

Home/UCLA