LOS ANGELES – UCLA (15-6, 6-4) beat USC (12-8, 4-5) on their own court by a score of 82-76 Monday night for the Bruins’ fourth-straight victory.
UCLA was without leading scorer junior forward Tyler Bilodeau, who injured his ankle early in the Bruins’ previous game against Washington. Sophomore center Aday Mara got the start in Bilodeau’s place, fresh off his recent hot streak.
"Any win is a great win.. in this league. And we just won two in a row on the road without our leading scorer," UCLA head coach Mick Cronin said in a postgame interview. "To ask me if I'm happy? Understatement."
Mara was everywhere for the Bruins in the game, a stark difference from his workload in previous games this season. He played 27 minutes of physical ball against the Trojans and stepped up with the added responsibility.
He went home with his first double-double of the season, scoring 12 points with 11 rebounds, while also denying five shots, his second straight game with five blocks.
The first half remained largely a two possession game-or-less in the high scoring affair.
The Trojans were uncharacteristically sharp from three. Usually averaging just over six three pointers per game this season, the Trojans sank seven from beyond the arc in the first half alone, over half their first half points. They finished 11-31 from three overall.
The Bruins played a clean game to combat the Trojans’ newfound three-point prowess. UCLA shot a clean 68% from the field in the first half and ended the game shooting 55% from the field overall. The Bruins had the slight advantage, going into halftime leading 42-37.
The game was a true test for UCLA guard Kobe Johnson. Johnson played three seasons for USC before transferring across town to UCLA, and in his return to the Galen Center Johnson heard resounding boos nearly every time he touched the ball. Johnson rose to the occasion despite the adversity he faced from his former schoolmates, shooting perfectly from the field to score seven points.
However, Johnson ran into foul trouble and ultimately fouled out against his former team with just under two minutes remaining.
It took close to four minutes for the Trojans to score in the second half with a three point jumper by redshirt freshman guard Wesley Yates III. In the meantime, UCLA opened the half with a 6-0 run to extend their lead 48-37 with 17:06 left in the game.
Mara tipped in a shot after countless attempts at the rim with 15:21 left in the game to put the Bruins up 52-40. Mara left out a scream after sinking the shot following the battle at the rim.
UCLA kept USC at arms length for the next six minutes, but an 8-0 run for the Trojans evaporated the Bruins lead, making it just a two possession game, 63-59, with 7:17 remaining.
Yates III made it just a two point game with a tremendous around the world layup he made after driving through the paint through a hole in the UCLA defense.
Despite the Trojan’s threats, the Bruins did not bow to the pressure or relinquish the lead. A three-pointer from UCLA sophomore guard Sebastian Mack followed by perfect free throws from Mack and junior guard Skyy Clark added some insurance to the UCLA lead, 80-72 with 29 seconds remaining in the game.
"I think just confidence in anything you do... it makes you unstoppable," UCLA sophomore forward/guard Eric Dailey Jr. said in a postgame interview. "If we stay confident as a team, which we will, we're gonna be tough."
Mack was a hero off the bench for the Bruins, scoring 14 points off 4-7 shooting from the field and a perfect performance from the charity stripe.
UCLA senior guard Lazar Stefanovic took a trip to the line himself and sank two, and even though the Trojans scored last in the game with two free throws of their own, UCLA had added to their lead enough and won the game 82-76 for the road win.
The Bruins look to keep their streak going but face a challenge with their next matchup against no. 16 Oregon Thursday, Jan 30 at 7:30 pm at home.
Cronin is confident in his team, but knows that they can't take anything for granted despite their recent success.
"The hungry dog gets the bone," Cronin said in a postgame interview. "Kids are fighting their hearts out to win games, and that's what wins games... but don't spread your wings, because peacock today, feather duster tomorrow."