UCLA defeats rival USC, advances to Pac-12 basketball tournament title game

They may really feel it on the best way to the timeout huddle within the closing minutes, Johnny Juzang high-fiving Peyton Watson and Jules Bernard clapping like he by no means needed to cease.

After matching its newest lockdown defensive effort with some environment friendly offense, UCLA simply wanted a closeout particular in opposition to USC in a Pac-12 Convention match semifinal late Friday evening.

Bruins guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. offered extra certainty, driving for a layup that had his teammates standing in celebration on the bench.

All that was left was to expire the clock on the second-seeded Bruins’ 69-59 victory over the third-seeded Trojans that moved UCLA into the convention match championship recreation for the primary time since 2014 whereas settling one other essential debate.

The rivalry wanted decision, if even only for this second, this newest battle for supremacy.

Spherical 1 went to USC in February, the Trojans pushing by means of the absence of their high participant, guard Drew Peterson filling the void to overflow with one unbelievable shot after one other.

Spherical 2 went to UCLA final week, the Bruins saying they wanted to place their life on the road and taking part in as if that wasn’t an exaggeration, prepared themselves previous their crosstown counterparts for the primary time in additional than three years.

These conflicting outcomes left the groups and their respective fan bases in want of some readability on the eve of the NCAA match. Even with greater video games forward, an unofficial metropolis title hung within the stability.

No banners can be raised, no jewellery designed because of the result — though UCLA followers would possibly joke in any other case after the Trojans just lately distributed Elite Eight rings — however the winners might tug on the entrance of their jerseys, pulling out the letters on the chest to declare themselves one of the best faculty basketball workforce in Los Angeles.

That distinction went to the Bruins (25-6), who will face top-seeded Arizona within the championship recreation Saturday night.

Not even a career-high-tying 27 factors from guard Boogie Ellis might maintain the Trojans afloat on an evening they have been outmanned by so many robust across-the-board efforts from UCLA. Jaquez led the Bruins with 19 factors, Bernard added 15 and Tyger Campbell had 14.

With Bernard in foul bother, Watson made essentially the most of some bonus minutes halfway by means of the second half. In a single sequence, he blocked a shot by USC’s Kobe Johnson earlier than changing a floater on the opposite finish of the courtroom. After Bruins middle Myles Johnson pressured Ellis into an airball — the Trojans’ fourth of the sport — Watson adopted with a three-pointer that nudged his workforce right into a 49-38 benefit.

It wasn’t all highlights. Watson dedicated a touring violation and an offensive foul earlier than rapidly departing.

After Ellis buried a jumper to tug USC to inside 51-45, the Bruins obtained some much-needed offense from main scorer Juzang, who had been caught in an prolonged funk since coming back from a sprained proper ankle. Juzang sank a jumper and located Bernard within the nook for a three-pointer that pushed the Bruins’ cushion to 56-47.

It’s been a very long time since both the Bruins or the Trojans minimize down the nets on this match. UCLA has not received the occasion since 2014, when it was performed on the MGM Grand Backyard Enviornment. USC’s title drought is even longer, its roster together with DeMar DeRozan and Taj Gibson when the Trojans final prevailed in 2009 … in what was then the Pac-10 match at Staples Middle.

Each groups have been safely within the NCAA match whatever the end result Friday, leaving solely doubts of seed, not seeds of doubt. ESPN bracket knowledgeable Joe Lunardi instructed The Instances this week that UCLA might rise as excessive as a No. 2 seed by successful the Pac-12 match, although a No. 3 seed was extra probably.

UCLA’s Johnny Juzang, who scored 10 factors, goes up for a layup in opposition to USC.

(John Locher / Related Press)

Lunardi projected USC as a No. 7 seed in his Friday bracket. One bonus of successful the rivalry rematch between the Trojans and Bruins was growing the probability of remaining on the West Coast for the opening rounds of the NCAA match, with spots accessible in San Diego and Portland, Ore.

Over the past week and a half, USC had performed like a workforce that deserved to get shipped to Buffalo, N.Y. The Trojans suffered a 20-point beatdown in opposition to Arizona, wanted a late rally to keep away from a blowout loss to UCLA and appeared on the verge of a turnover-fueled collapse of their Pac-12 match opener earlier than holding off Washington.

Their struggles continued within the early going Friday.

The Trojans’ Joshua Morgan, proper, defends Bruins massive man Myles Johnson throughout the first half.

(John Locher / Related Press)

Johnson moved again into the beginning lineup and introduced his presence by hectoring Peterson right into a turnover on USC’s opening possession. The Bruins rapidly matched the blunder, a Campbell cost 53 seconds into the sport giving UCLA as many turnovers because it had within the entirety of the final assembly between the groups whereas setting a faculty document.

Prefer it did the earlier evening, UCLA’s protection made issues excruciating halfway by means of the primary half, holding the Trojans to one in every of 10 subject objectives at one level. Isaiah Mobley, Peterson and Ellis every airballed a shot within the first half, and USC compounded its points by lacking 4 consecutive free throws.

It had all of the components of a UCLA rout. After Clark grabbed an offensive rebound that led to a Campbell three-pointer, the Bruins held a 36-24 lead and the Trojans referred to as a timeout. Peterson lastly gave USC some much-needed momentum earlier than halftime when he pulled the Trojans to inside 36-28 with two free throws and a baseline jumper.

They might by no means get a lot nearer, the rivalry belonging as soon as once more to the Bruins.