The UCLA Bruins Can Scream "We're Number Two!" And feel good about it for now.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. scored 27 points and number 17 UCLA beat 16th-ranked Southern California 75-68 on Saturday night to claim the No. 2 seed in next week's Pac-12 tournament. No. 2 Arizona took the top seed with 18 league wins.
"We're definitely focused and off to go to the Pac-12 and the NCAA Tournament," said Jules Bernard, who added 19 points.
The Bruins (23-6, 15-5 Pac-12) came into the regular-season finale of the teams finishing second in the league with their crosstown rival. They broke a five-game skid against the Trojans with their first win in the series since February 28, 2019, and third year under coach Mick Cronin.
"It certainly means a lot to end the regular season on a good note," Bernard said.
The Jaques have scored 57 points in the Bruins' last two games, including a career-high 30 against Washington.
"I feel much better right now," he said. "My ankles are doing a lot better right now."
Johnny Juzang returned to UCLA after missing two games due to a right ankle sprain. He finished with eight points, two free throws missing with 30 seconds left and the Bruins clinging to a four-point lead.
Bernard scored 3 of 4 at the free-throw line to end the win.
The Trojans (25-6, 14-6) were led by Isaiah Mobley with 20 points and eight rebounds. Boogie Ellis and Drew Peterson added 13 points each. In addition to scoring the first basket of the game, the Trojans fell behind the rest of the way. But he made it close in the end.
Buoyed by a raucous, abusive student class, the Bruins' defense forced 15 turnovers to avenge a 67-64 loss to the Trojans at the Gallen Center last month. UCLA had just one turnover—by Miles Johnson—the lowest of any game on record and the lowest by a Pac-12 team on record.
"Just sharing the ball, not trying to force anything, good offense," Jaquez said.
USC tied the game 47-all in a four-point game to Ellis, who scored 12-6 to open the second half.
Peterson scored five consecutive runs to draw the Trojans within one, before the Jaques were stung by UCLA for six straight points with one hand.
The Jaques took over, scoring on three consecutive possessions in a 16–4 run that gave UCLA its biggest lead of 69–56. The Trojans made four turnovers in short order and Ellis picked up his third foul.
But USC regrouped and closed with a 12-1 lead at 70-68, including seven points from Mobley, as the Bruins cooled.
I didn't like the way we ended the game. We had some serious errors down the stretch," Cronin said. "We did everything to get them back in. We should have won by double digits."
Cody Riley hit a turnaround jumper in the lane that put UCLA ahead 72-68.
USC coach Andy Enfield said, 'It was a tough shot. "Then Isaiah got down and we gave him the ball and he missed a 3-foot hook shot. Those were the key shots. Isaiah always makes those jump hooks, or at least 90% of them, and he missed. We just couldn't make a shot. ,
Max Agboncapolo committed to USC's final turnover when he stepped out of bounds with 31 seconds to play. Reese Dixon-Waters and Ellis missed 3-pointers and Ellis missed the last 16 seconds with an easy lay-up.
Big picture
USC: The Trojans won a school-record 25 games in the regular season and are set to score another run after the season. He reached the Elite Eight last year.
UCLA: The Bruins went 5-1 in last year's NCAA Tournament final four place, and they're eager to go one step further with their talent-filled roster.
Golden Jubilee
The Bruins marked the 50th anniversary of the program's 1972 national championships at halftime. Players gathered at Center Court included Bill Walton, Jamal Wilkes, Henry Bibby, Larry Farmer and Sven Netter, along with assistant coach Gary Cunningham. UCLA went undefeated under coach John Wooden on the way to win the school's eighth NCAA basketball title in 1971–72.
Senior night
Bernard, Riley and David Singleton were awarded before the game, although it may not be the last of the seniors. The trio could return next season as the NCAA grants players additional eligibility due to COVID-19.
Next
Both teams earned first-round byes for the Pac-12 tournament in Las Vegas and will begin play on Thursday. The Bruins play the winner of No. 7 Washington State against No. 10 California. The third-seeded Trojans play either No. 6 Washington or No. 11 Utah in the quarterfinals. If both teams win, the Bruins and Trojans could meet in the semi-finals.