LAS VEGAS (AP) - Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 19 points, Jules Bernard 15 and No. 13 as UCLA beat No. 21 Southern California 69-59 on Friday night in the Pac-12 semifinals.
The second-seeded Bruins (25-6) closed the Trojans defensively to an eight-point halftime lead and kept them at bay with a sterling offensive second half.
Tiger Campbell added 14 points to help send UCLA to Saturday's title game against No. 2 Arizona.
The Trojans cut turnovers (23), which plagued them in the quarterfinals against Washington, but spent most of the first half in offensive funk. USC began shooting more shots in the second half, but could not make it to the ground as the Bruins made even better shots.
Boogie Ellis tried to keep the third-seeded Trojans (26–7) in it, taking five 3-pointers and scoring 27 points.
USC won the first team meeting 67–64, despite playing without Mobley due to an injury. UCLA won the second game last Saturday, 75-68, ending a five-game losing streak to its opponent and earning the No. 2 seed in the Pac-12 tournament.
The Bruins took control of the third go-round with a dominating defensive first half.
Rounding out the Trojans from the inside and out for their perimeter shooters, UCLA held USC to shoot 29 for 9 in the first half. The Trojans had a field goal in six minutes, but Drew Peterson hit a turnaround jumper and pulled them within 36-28 at halftime.
The Jackies had 11 points in the first half after scoring 17 of their 23 points in the second half against Washington State in the quarterfinals.
USC started the first half with five of the first six shots - and still couldn't make the field.
The Jaquez continued to give the Trojans problems with his footwork and cunning moves in the post, scoring and setting up teammates when the doubles came.
USC then managed to reduce the lead to 42–38, but UCLA pulled it back and made 12 of 22 in the second half.
Big picture
USC found an aggressive second half after struggling in the first half, but gave up on a lot of good looks that the Bruins knocked off.
UCLA earned their first trip to the Pac-12 title game since winning in 2014, showcasing their defensive prowess in the first half and their offensive firepower in the second.
Next
USC: Will play in the NCAA tournament, but is likely to be a low seed after closing out the season with three losses in four games.
UCLA: Moves on to face No. 2 Arizona in the title game on Saturday night.